I have loved to read since childhood. Some of my best memories, as early as age 7, are those of being tucked away reading the latest books from my weekly trip to the library. Reading has always been much more important than TV and a required activity for my busy life since it forces me to slow down.

The first romances that made a large impression on me were Christie by Catherine Marshall and The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye in the 1970s. During these years I also read Rosemary Rogers and other similar authors. It was the Rogers type of book that drove me away from romance for over 20 years. I still read profusely but concentrated on non-fiction, Tom Clancy type novels, and the latest Pulitzer Prize winner. Since history fascinates me, I read history texts as I would a book of fiction. I suppose I was a reading snob. When I saw a torrid romance cover, Rogers immediately came to mind, and I would think, no way. In 2001, I was perusing the new releases at Barnes & Noble and found Dream of Me by Josie Litton. It had a normal cover, and I purchased it as historical fiction. Wow - was it ever an eye-opener! I discovered the truly wonderful, in-depth world of romance. I have now read over 800 romance novels and am totally sold on romance!

I live in northeast Oklahoma with my husband, a lab named Cool, and my ever favorite cat, Dickens. I have enjoyed a lot of variety in my life. I was a stay-at-home mom for 9 years, a banker for 13 years, and opened my own decorative accessories shop 8 years ago. My biggest love is floral gardening, and I have grown and preserved (dried) flowers for twenty years. I have been a regular of AAR for three years now and love the interaction. It is truly my very favorite web site.

What I'm a sucker for in a book: Alpha males, mature leads who clearly communicate, longer books (at least 350 pages), captive/capturer stories, luscious love stories, cabin romances, the hero’s comeuppance, HEAs, sexy humor, mistresses, pregnancy, a confident, emotionally healthy hero, and former lovers reuniting and trying again..

What I don't particularly care for in a book: Thieves, romantic suspense, smart alecks, women masquerading as boys, easily avoided misunderstandings, amnesia, marriage in name only, heroines under 18, and couples with an age difference greater than 10 years.

What drives me absolutely nuts in a book: Dishonesty, mouthy heroines, the Big Misunderstanding, long separations, unhappy endings, TSTL heroines, torture, violence, exaggerated evilness, and misleading large print/fonts in books.

Absolute Favorites

Keeper of the Dream by Penelope Williamson
Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie

Favorite Classic

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Absolute Favorites

Keeper of the Dream by Penelope Williamson
Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie

Favorite Classic

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Medieval:

Untamed by Elizabeth Lowell
The Warrior by Nicole Jordan
Keeper of the Dream by Penelope Williamson

European Historical:

To Have and To Hold by Patricia Gaffney
Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught
An Affair Most Wicked by Julianne MacLean
Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas

Frontier or American Historical:

Winter Fire by Elizabeth Lowell
The Heart Breaker by Nicole Jordan

Contemporary:

Remember the Time by Annette Reynolds
After the Night by Linda Howard
Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie
It Had to Be Youby Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Category:

Duncan's Bride by Linda Howard

Alternate Reality:

Knight of a Trillion Stars by Dara Joy

Favorite Hero

Raine the Black Dragon, Keeper of the Dream by Penelope Williamson
Dan Calebow, It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Thomas Blackwood, Winter Garden by Adele Ashworth
Wolf Hakonson, Dream of Me by Josie Litton
Linda Howard's heroes

Favorite Heroine

Faith Devlin, After the Night by Linda Howard
Amanda Briars, Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas
Sophie Dempsey, Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie
Meredith Bancroft, Paradise by Judith McNaught
Daisy Devereaux, Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Most Tortured Hero

Sloan McCord, The Heart Breaker by Nicole Jordan
Simon Riley, Return to Me by Shannon McKenna

Strongest Heroine

Jessica Trent, Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

Favorite Couple

Raine the Black Dragon and Lady Arianna, Keeper of the Dream by Penelope Williamson
Lord Alex Raiford and Lilly Lawson, Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas
Dan Calebow and Phoebe Somerville, It Had To Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Wolf Hakonson and Lady Cymbra, Dream of Me by Josie Litton

Best Villain

Lord Edward Vane, The Seduction by Julia Ross

Cabin or Road:

Her Bodyguard by Michelle Jerott
Winter Garden by Adele Ashworth
Perfect by Judith McNaught

Suspense:

Off Limits by Michele Albert
Out of Control by Suzanne Brockmann

Funny:

Indiscretion by Jillian Hunter
She Went All the Way by Meggin Cabot

Sexy:

The Real Deal by Lucy Monroe
Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie
Return to Me by Shannon McKenna

Least-Favorites

Most Disappointing Books

High Energy by Dara Joy
Once a Princess by Johanna Lindsey
Beast by Judith Ivory

Worst Books

Almost a Gentleman by Pam Rosenthal
A Nerd in Shining Armor by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Most Annoying Lead Character

Delanie Eastman, Hide and Seek, by Cherry Adair

Authors I Have Given Up On

Stephanie Laurens
Lori Foster
Nicole Jordan

Authors Others Love That I Don't

Jo Beverley
Christina Dodd
Pam Rosenthal
Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick

Non-Romance Favorites

Favorite Author

Tom Clancy
Jan Karon

Favorite Book

The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

Favorite Mystery

Debt of Honor by Tom Clancy
The Chamber by John Grisham

Favorite Nonfiction

Histories of The Civil War and World War II
Works of Henry David Thoreau

Favorite Women's Fiction

A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Favorite Set of Connected Books

The Mitford Series by Jan Karon
The Jack Ryan Series by Tom Clancy

Book Most Often Reread

Books by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Books by Lisa Kleypas