I don’t know about you but my office is waaaaay too small, and that means from time to time I have to purge the “keeper book shelf.” Yep, even books I’d swear I’d keep till my dying day have got to go because there’s simply too many of them.
It’s either them or the computer!
This is tough. Best tackled with martini in one hand and Peeps in the other; anything to lessen the pain. There are books signed just to me, books that have inspired me to write, books that have taught a huge lesson, books that have made me laugh. I try to not have books that make me cry. Lots of readers love the cry books. I go for the fun.
And I really think the books that you love the most are ones that you read at a certain point of your life and touch you deeply. I had a reader write me right after the Katrina hurricane and her Fla. home had pretty much been destroyed. No ice, no elect etc and she read one of my books each night. She said the humor kept her sane and it was going to the front of her keeper shelf. Really touched my heart.
Many of you have huge bookshelves to store your treasures. I have three small shelves and that’s it.
So, now as I sit here in front of my pile of books… Which ones go, which stay? I’m not going to bore you with the ones I toss, but as for my absolutely must keeps… Here are my top five! Okay, I’m going to cheat a little but give me a break…
1) French Silk by Sandra Brown What a book!
2) One for the Money, Two for the Dough, Three to Get Deadly
Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books
I have the original releases on these and have read them so
Many times they are falling apart
3) The Winston Brothers
Lori Foster Love those guys!
4) The Mackenzies
Lind Howard
5) Carnal Innocence
Nora Roberts Who couldn’t love a hero names Tucker Longstreet
So, what’s on your keeper shelf? Okay I know your list is tons longer than mine but what are the top three?
I’ll draw a name from the list of responses and mail off a
The Morgue the Merrier (Kensington Zebra 9/07) tote.
Hugs,
Dianne Castell
DianneCastell.com
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On my keeper shelves I have all of Johanna Lindsey’s books, Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander sieries, Karen Marie Moning Highlander series, Most all of Bertrice Small’s books. And I have most of Madeline Hunter’s, Lynn Kurland’s, & Kinley MacGregor’s books too. That is only part of my collection. I’m always looking for new authors to read.
by Tammy G.
on July 17th, 2007 at 6:50 am
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Dianne,
You have some great ones in your top five! Okay, so my top three, just three? Are you sure? Okay, okay, top three lol:
1) Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas
2) Heart of Fire by Linda Howard
3) The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss
There are so many more that I love, but that’s the top three. In truth, my keeper shelves are starting to need their own house lol.
Hugs, Zara :grin:
by Zara
on July 17th, 2007 at 7:09 am
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All books by Linda Howard, Johanna Lindsey, and Heather Graham.
by Amy S.
on July 17th, 2007 at 8:53 am
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Picking only three is cruel and unsual punishment, but since I’m going to cheat, I don’t care. LOL 
1. Any and all books by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I love her Chicago Stars series.
2. Every autographed book I have by Nora Roberts and I have quite a few. Since I also live in Maryland I try to get to most of her signings.
3. Carly Philips book Cross My Heart in hardback. I bought the paperback also that when her new one Sealed With a Kiss comes out, I will have a matching set. (Anal, I know.)
BTW I also have all of your books on my keeper shelf. I have loved them all.
by Patty L
on July 17th, 2007 at 10:47 am
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Mary Balogh whose books I treasure, Emilie richards whom I enjoy greatly, and Diana Gabaldon books.
by sharon
on July 17th, 2007 at 11:05 am
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SEP - Kiss An Angel
Barbara Delinsky - Three Wishes
Kathleen Korbel - A Rose for Maggie
You are so cruel - you said ONLY 3. LOL.
by Pat L
on July 17th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
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My faves are all of Luanne Rice’s b ooks, Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King and Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh. Love those.
by pearl
on July 17th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
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The Texas Trilogy by Sandra Brown
5 Kids, 1 Christmas by Terese Ramin
Look Into Your Heart by Tricia McGill
and the list goes on.
by RobynL
on July 17th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
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A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell, Any Bitter Thing by Monica Wood and The Sense of Paper by Taylor holden. Wonderful!
by ellie
on July 17th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
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I love that there are so many different books on everyone list. Some of the same authors but even those books are different.
Thanks, Patty, for including my books on you keeper shelf. You sure made my day.
I think I need more keeper shelves, you keeper books make me want to add some.
I’ve always wanted to read Diamond Bay. Eveyone loves that book. When I get this book I’m working on done, I’m going on a Diamond Bay hunt. ;-)
by Dianne Castell
on July 17th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
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Farewell Summer by Ray Bradbury, The Witness by Sandra Brown and many others by her, Jacqueline Sheehan.
by anne
on July 17th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
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All the Amanda Quick books, the Kathleen Woodiwiss books, Diane Perkins, several of Nora’s trilogies, , the Elizabeth Lowell westerns. Daphne du Maurier. Jennifer Crusie. Ths is just the tip of the collection. I have a TON of books I keep rereading.
by Gail Barrett
on July 17th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
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I have Jenny Crusie’s Bet Me, that was good. And Amanda Quick. Love her books.
I reread a lot too. Sometimes I just need a break and pick up a Stephanie Plum book. Reading about Ranger or Joe is always nice. :-)
by Dianne Castell
on July 17th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
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Honor’s Spendour by Julie Garwood
Circus of the Damned by Laurell K. Hamilton
Sword of Darkness by Kinley MacGregor
I have plenty more keepers but it would take too long to list. So those are my top three.
by April
on July 17th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
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Wow - so hard.
All books by Julie Garwood, Jean Auel, and Jodi Picoult.
by catslady
on July 17th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
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Maggie Shayne: Miranda’s Viking
Almost anything by Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb
Kate Lyon: Time’s Captive
by Minna
on July 18th, 2007 at 5:01 am
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Oh, this is so hard to do as I have several shelves of keeper books!
“Seeing Red” - Jill Shalvis
“Surrender”- Pamela Clare
“Nothing but Velvet”- Kat Martin
by Laurie
on July 18th, 2007 at 6:15 am
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Laura Kinsale’s Seize the Fire
many Linda Howard books
many Emma Holly books
by Sue A.
on July 18th, 2007 at 11:34 am
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Hi
I drew Sue A’s name from the box.
Hey, Sue, send me your addy at DianneCastell.com and I’ll send along a tote and stuff.
Thanks, everyone, for joining in the fun.
Have a good week.
Dianne
DianneCastell.com
by Dianne Castell
on July 18th, 2007 at 11:56 am
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Thanks again Dianne!
I already replied back to your e-mail.
by Sue A.
on July 18th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
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wtg su e a
by kim h
on July 18th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
