Let's talk comfort reads today. For me, a comfort read is a hug in book form, a cozy blanket to wrap around me, a visit with friends. What are your most treasured comfort reads? ❤️
My go-to comfort books are Anne McCaffrey's The White Dragon and All the Weyrs of Pern. I've always envied Jaxom for having Ruth and spent many hours imagining myself Ruth's rider. I also really wanted Peimur's Farli. :)
A more recent title that I've found myself reaching for again and again is The Bees by Laline Paull.
Not all of my autobuy/favorite authors would I consider comfort reads, even when they have books I do reread. My comfort reads depend a lot on my mood. These are all books I've reread for comfort in the past few years, some multiple times.
The Psy/Changeling series, particularly Slave to Sensation, Caressed by Ice, Beat of Temptation, Stroke of Enticement, Blaze of Memory, Bonds of Justice, Whisper of Sin, Texture of Intimacy, Heart of Obsidian, Shards of Hope, Allegiance of Honor, Silver Silence, and Ocean Light.
Rock Courtship, Rock Hard, Rock Wedding, Cherish Hard, and Rebel Hard by Nalini.
Exclusively Yours, Yours to Keep, All He Ever Dreamed, Love a Little Sideways, Taken with You, Falling for Max, Holiday Sparks, Controlled Burn, Under Control, and Flare Up by Shannon Stacey.
To the Brink and Show No Mercy by Cindy Gerard.
Call of Duty, Line of Duty, Deep Freeze, and The Middle Sin by Merline Lovelace.
Saint's Gate, Declan's Cross, Harbor Island, and Echo Lake by Carla Neggers.
Jeffe Kennedy's The Twleve Kingdoms and The Uncharted Realms series, most particularly The Talon of the Hawk, The Crown of the Queen, The Pages of the Mind, The Shift of the Tide, and The Dragons of Summer. I Haven't reread any of the prequel The Chronicles of Dasnaria trilogy yet but most certainly will next time I am sucked into a series reread, so should probably add them as well.
Extreme Honor, Ultimate Courage, and Absolute Trust by Piper J. Drake.
Magic in the Wind, Safe Harbor, Shadow Game, Conspiracy Game, and Deadly Game by Christine Feehan
Plenty of books by Jayne Ann Krentz in her many guises including: Deception, Ravished, Scandal, and The Perfect Poison as Amanda Quick, Trust Me, Falling Awake, Wildest Hearts, White Lies, Sizzle and Burn, and Absolutely, Positively as JAK. Amaryllis, Zinnia, Canyons of Night, and Illusion Town as Jayne Castle. And Fabulous Beast as Stephanie James.
Here Be Monsters, Riveted, Wrecked, Salvage, and The Kraken King by Meljean Brook.
Something About You and Love Irresistibly by Julie James.
The Villa, Birthright, Three Fates, Northern Lights, Tears of the Moon, Heaven and Earth, The Witness, Blue Dahlia, Black Rose, The Heart of Devin MacKade, Blood Magick, and The Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts. Though there are others of hers I would consider comfort reads as well, these are the ones I've reread recently.
It may seem odd that I consider books so often about serial killers as comfort reads, but the In Death series by JD Robb totally fits the bill for me, particularly Naked in Death, Glory in Death, Conspiracy in Death, Loyalty in Death, Judgment in Death, Reunion in Death, Portrait in Death, Divided in Death, Survivor in Death, Memory in Death, Innocent in Death, and New York to Dallas.
Finally, Long Time Gone by Meg Benjamin and Driven by Eve Kenin. I will also give a nod to Jessie Mihalik's Polaris Rising as I already want to reread it again and can see myself doing so multiple times in the coming years.
I know this is a long list, but I am a big rereader and comfort reads tend to dominate when I reread.
Comfort reads have been keeping me afloat the last couple of years. It's been really easy to identify my best ones because I keep going back to them. Who would have thought in this day and age with millions of books flooding that it would be so hard to find good new books?
My faves are: Rock Hard and Archangel's Enigma Mariana Zapata - The Wall of Winnipeg and Kulti Kristin Ashley - The Will; Soaring; The Gamble; Sweet Dreams; Breathe; Heaven and Hell and Law Man Thea Harrison - Dragon Bound and Oracle's Moon Laurann Dohner - all the New Species book (I've given up getting any more of those) Mia Sheridan - Archer's Voice and Grayson's Vow Linda Howard - Mackenzie's Mountain; Open Season and Duncan's Bride All Georgette Heyer books
My number one comfort read is probably Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. I usually end up rereading that book at least once a year, and sometimes I just go ahead and read the entire series. After that, my go-to comfort reads are anything by Nalini, Linda Howard (mostly her older stuff), and Ilona Andrews.
Old friends such as Anne McCaffrey, Andre Norton, Mercedes Lackey, and Alan Dean Foster. Newer friends such as Gini Koch, Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Anne Bishop, Lisa Shearan, and Patricia Briggs. When I want comfort I either go for humor and/or HEA. If a book hits too close to home, when I need comfort, I avoid it until I'm in a better headspace.
Funny you should ask. I had a bad cold early this month and re-read the Psy/changeling books starting with 'Heart of Obsidian', a couple of recent J. D. Robb books, then the last couple of Feehan's GhostWalker series.
But if I really need comfort, I would put 'Whisper of Sin' high on my list. I also would include Dorothy Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax books, McCaffrey's 'Lyon's Pride', 'Tower and the Hive' or maybe a brain ship story, Emma Lathen's John Putnam Thatcher mysteries. I also fall back on poetry or authors I read as a young adult like Jim Kjelgaard. I should also include the Lord Peter Wimsey series, especially 'Busman's Honeymoon. I've worn out two paperback copies and am on my third. (grin) I especially like the letters and diary entries at the first of the book.
I usually play music, maybe Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' and have a cup of hot tea.
I like either a HEA or something where good triumphs.
Bless you for giving us the chance to share these suggestions.
I relax by escaping into my favourite Georgette Heyer novels- These Old Shades, Frederica, Regency Buck, Devils Cub are my favourites.. But I must admit to having the entire Heyer collection, including the crime novels, and to knowing many of them almost by heart. For instance- "This age I grant and grant with pride is varied, rich eventful..but, if you touch it's weaker side..deplorably resentful". I also agree that the Dragons of Pern can take me away from the problems on Earth. I have loved Lessa since I was a young girl and Jaxom is a leader we could do with now. To make you giggle the Bridgertons of Julia Quinn are some of my favourite people...Lady Whistledown entranced me and the antics of the sisters had me laughing out loud.."When he was Wicked" and "To Sir Philip with Love" are classics. And then there is Nalini's wonderful cast- I first met them in a speciality bookshop that has now closed and that I miss very much...and i have been hanging out for each new instalment. Lucas and Sasha, Brenna and Judd are wonderful role models.I actually really enjoyed watching all the pictures of the different versions of these characters on the website. The only one of my comfort reads that has been made into a movie is the Outlander series by Dianna Gabaldon ...and yes, I am in love with Jamie. The idea of a Psy Changeling movie would be wonderful. But then I have waited for years for dragons to appear in movies and there has been talk of making a movie of Regency Buck for more than ten years but nothing never seems to happen. Ironic isn't it.. I actually have trouble watching Game of Thrones..it is just too violent...
There are a lot of books that I re-read on a regular basis. But, when things are way too serious in my life, I read something by Shelly Laurenston, particularly the Pride series. I once re-read Bear Meets Girl in a very small airport where my flight was re-routed and then grounded and we had to spend all night in a small area surrounded by security people - just in case we freaked out. The other passengers around me probably thought I was insane because I was reading and laughing out loud in that miserable situation. But I love that book - so much violence, but in a good way. And in one of Shelly's books, the women hit a lot harder than the men. Which is a nice world to live in.
Let's talk comfort reads today. For me, a comfort read is a hug in book form, a cozy blanket to wrap around me, a visit with friends. 
10 comments :
My go-to comfort books are Anne McCaffrey's The White Dragon and All the Weyrs of Pern. I've always envied Jaxom for having Ruth and spent many hours imagining myself Ruth's rider. I also really wanted Peimur's Farli. :)
A more recent title that I've found myself reaching for again and again is The Bees by Laline Paull.
Not all of my autobuy/favorite authors would I consider comfort reads, even when they have books I do reread. My comfort reads depend a lot on my mood. These are all books I've reread for comfort in the past few years, some multiple times.
The Psy/Changeling series, particularly Slave to Sensation, Caressed by Ice, Beat of Temptation, Stroke of Enticement, Blaze of Memory, Bonds of Justice, Whisper of Sin, Texture of Intimacy, Heart of Obsidian, Shards of Hope, Allegiance of Honor, Silver Silence, and Ocean Light.
Rock Courtship, Rock Hard, Rock Wedding, Cherish Hard, and Rebel Hard by Nalini.
Exclusively Yours, Yours to Keep, All He Ever Dreamed, Love a Little Sideways, Taken with You, Falling for Max, Holiday Sparks, Controlled Burn, Under Control, and Flare Up by Shannon Stacey.
To the Brink and Show No Mercy by Cindy Gerard.
Call of Duty, Line of Duty, Deep Freeze, and The Middle Sin by Merline Lovelace.
Saint's Gate, Declan's Cross, Harbor Island, and Echo Lake by Carla Neggers.
Jeffe Kennedy's The Twleve Kingdoms and The Uncharted Realms series, most particularly The Talon of the Hawk, The Crown of the Queen, The Pages of the Mind, The Shift of the Tide, and The Dragons of Summer. I Haven't reread any of the prequel The Chronicles of Dasnaria trilogy yet but most certainly will next time I am sucked into a series reread, so should probably add them as well.
Extreme Honor, Ultimate Courage, and Absolute Trust by Piper J. Drake.
Magic in the Wind, Safe Harbor, Shadow Game, Conspiracy Game, and Deadly Game by Christine Feehan
Plenty of books by Jayne Ann Krentz in her many guises including: Deception, Ravished, Scandal, and The Perfect Poison as Amanda Quick, Trust Me, Falling Awake, Wildest Hearts, White Lies, Sizzle and Burn, and Absolutely, Positively as JAK. Amaryllis, Zinnia, Canyons of Night, and Illusion Town as Jayne Castle. And Fabulous Beast as Stephanie James.
Here Be Monsters, Riveted, Wrecked, Salvage, and The Kraken King by Meljean Brook.
Something About You and Love Irresistibly by Julie James.
The Villa, Birthright, Three Fates, Northern Lights, Tears of the Moon, Heaven and Earth, The Witness, Blue Dahlia, Black Rose, The Heart of Devin MacKade, Blood Magick, and The Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts. Though there are others of hers I would consider comfort reads as well, these are the ones I've reread recently.
It may seem odd that I consider books so often about serial killers as comfort reads, but the In Death series by JD Robb totally fits the bill for me, particularly Naked in Death, Glory in Death, Conspiracy in Death, Loyalty in Death, Judgment in Death, Reunion in Death, Portrait in Death, Divided in Death, Survivor in Death, Memory in Death, Innocent in Death, and New York to Dallas.
Finally, Long Time Gone by Meg Benjamin and Driven by Eve Kenin. I will also give a nod to Jessie Mihalik's Polaris Rising as I already want to reread it again and can see myself doing so multiple times in the coming years.
I know this is a long list, but I am a big rereader and comfort reads tend to dominate when I reread.
My comfort reads depends on what I'm in the mood for at that moment.
James Clavell's Shogun I read if I want to go back to medieval Japan (and get away from modern day stuff).
Anything by you Nalini.
Grace Draven's Radiance and Eidolon.
I'm currently re-reading Jessie Mihalik's Polaris Rising.
JD Robb's books, especially Treachery in Death, Origin in Death, Celebrity in Death, and Immortal in Death.
There are others but I don't want to make the list longer. 😀
Comfort reads have been keeping me afloat the last couple of years. It's been really easy to identify my best ones because I keep going back to them. Who would have thought in this day and age with millions of books flooding that it would be so hard to find good new books?
My faves are:
Rock Hard and Archangel's Enigma
Mariana Zapata - The Wall of Winnipeg and Kulti
Kristin Ashley - The Will; Soaring; The Gamble; Sweet Dreams; Breathe; Heaven and Hell and Law Man
Thea Harrison - Dragon Bound and Oracle's Moon
Laurann Dohner - all the New Species book (I've given up getting any more of those)
Mia Sheridan - Archer's Voice and Grayson's Vow
Linda Howard - Mackenzie's Mountain; Open Season and Duncan's Bride
All Georgette Heyer books
Haha, heaps more too.
My number one comfort read is probably Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. I usually end up rereading that book at least once a year, and sometimes I just go ahead and read the entire series. After that, my go-to comfort reads are anything by Nalini, Linda Howard (mostly her older stuff), and Ilona Andrews.
Old friends such as Anne McCaffrey, Andre Norton, Mercedes Lackey, and Alan Dean Foster. Newer friends such as Gini Koch, Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Anne Bishop, Lisa Shearan, and Patricia Briggs. When I want comfort I either go for humor and/or HEA. If a book hits too close to home, when I need comfort, I avoid it until I'm in a better headspace.
Funny you should ask. I had a bad cold early this month and re-read the Psy/changeling books starting with 'Heart of Obsidian', a couple of recent J. D. Robb books, then the last couple of Feehan's GhostWalker series.
But if I really need comfort, I would put 'Whisper of Sin' high on my list. I also would include Dorothy Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax books, McCaffrey's 'Lyon's Pride', 'Tower and the Hive' or maybe a brain ship story, Emma Lathen's John Putnam Thatcher mysteries. I also fall back on poetry or authors I read as a young adult like Jim Kjelgaard. I should also include the Lord Peter Wimsey series, especially 'Busman's Honeymoon. I've worn out two paperback copies and am on my third. (grin) I especially like the letters and diary entries at the first of the book.
I usually play music, maybe Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' and have a cup of hot tea.
I like either a HEA or something where good triumphs.
Bless you for giving us the chance to share these suggestions.
I always re-read my favorites by Linda Howard, Nora Roberts, Kristen Ashley, Nalini Singh, Jayne Ann Krentz...and many more.
I relax by escaping into my favourite Georgette Heyer novels- These Old Shades, Frederica, Regency Buck, Devils Cub are my favourites..
But I must admit to having the entire Heyer collection, including the crime novels, and to knowing many of them almost by heart. For instance- "This age I grant and grant with pride is varied, rich eventful..but, if you touch it's weaker side..deplorably resentful".
I also agree that the Dragons of Pern can take me away from the problems on Earth. I have loved Lessa since I was a young girl and Jaxom is a leader we could do with now.
To make you giggle the Bridgertons of Julia Quinn are some of my favourite people...Lady Whistledown entranced me and the antics of the sisters had me laughing out loud.."When he was Wicked" and "To Sir Philip with Love" are classics.
And then there is Nalini's wonderful cast- I first met them in a speciality bookshop that has now closed and that I miss very much...and i have been hanging out for each new instalment. Lucas and Sasha, Brenna and Judd are wonderful role models.I actually really enjoyed watching all the pictures of the different versions of these characters on the website.
The only one of my comfort reads that has been made into a movie is the Outlander series by Dianna Gabaldon ...and yes, I am in love with Jamie.
The idea of a Psy Changeling movie would be wonderful. But then I have waited for years for dragons to appear in movies and there has been talk of making a movie of Regency Buck for more than ten years but nothing never seems to happen. Ironic isn't it.. I actually have trouble watching Game of Thrones..it is just too violent...
There are a lot of books that I re-read on a regular basis. But, when things are way too serious in my life, I read something by Shelly Laurenston, particularly the Pride series. I once re-read Bear Meets Girl in a very small airport where my flight was re-routed and then grounded and we had to spend all night in a small area surrounded by security people - just in case we freaked out. The other passengers around me probably thought I was insane because I was reading and laughing out loud in that miserable situation. But I love that book - so much violence, but in a good way. And in one of Shelly's books, the women hit a lot harder than the men. Which is a nice world to live in.
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