Books of the Heart

We all have them. Some stories we write and for some reason they stick with us more than others. Some books we read and they grab on and don't let go. I have a couple in each category.After I share mine, I want to hear yours! I'm always looking to add to my TBR, plus talking books is just plain fun.

Reading wise, I have two books of the heart. I've read both four times and I know I'll be reading them again. That's the sure sign of a treasured favorite – that they get better each time you read them!

The first is Angels Fall by Nora Roberts. I love everything about this book. The setting in Wyoming –Nora's vivid settings are like another character in her stories –the understandably neurotic, quirky, brave heroine Reece, the sexy, strong and sometimes obnoxious hero Brody. Even writing about them makes me want to read this book again. Sinking into a Nora story is like submerging in warm, tranquil water...you always end up just wanting to float there for a while, undisturbed. This is especially true for me with this book. Most of all I love how Brody is so afraid of committing to Reece, but at the end he makes a decision that is so heroic and so sigh worthy that I nearly swoon every time I read it. Nora's heroes are things of beauty, and Brody's one of her best.

The second is Halfway To The Grave by Jeaniene Frost. I love Cat and Bones. I can't even say exactly why I love this book so much but I do. Cat's emotional scars only make her stronger and her vulnerability attracts Bones as much as her strength. And Bones...oh, Bones. There's nothing like seeing a tough, world weary hero – even if he's a vampire assassin – brought to his knees by love.

Writing wise, I have two books of my heart so far. The first is Insatiable. Rachel and Shawn were my first ever hero and heroine that I wrote in high school, based loosely on another boy and girl in my class. Though their real life inspirations never dated, Rachel and Shawn went through many incarnations (including Rachel getting a brand new hero for a couple years) before falling in forever love. Seeing their story finally published this February was amazing!

The other is Provoke Me, which releases June 22nd from Ellora's Cave. Kelly and Spencer became real to me as I was writing them. So real that when I finished, I knew I had to write another story about them—a first for me. Promise Me will be the sixth and final book in my Unveiled series, and I admit I've already started to write it even though I haven't finished book 3 yet. I love them so much that even while I was writing the synopsis for Promise Me, Kelly's voice came through loud and clear. Provoke Me's my longest book to date and I'm still not done with those characters. Or they're not done with me, I'm not sure which. I only hope readers enjoy their story as much I did writing it—all the angst they put me through aside!

Now it's your turn. Readers, what is the book(s) of your heart? Writers, what about you? Can't wait to hear what books move you most and why!