It is a sad day here at Romancing Rakes For The Love Of Romance. You see we are both in reading ruts. We just can’t seem to get into any books. And we’ve tried. Oh, have we tried. We’ve switched from historicals to contemporaries, paranormal to romantic suspense. I’ve tried switching to novellas to see if I just needed something quick to read. Nothing has worked! I think I’m broke.
This happens every once and a while, usually once I finish a book that has completely blown me away. This last reading rut has been because I was sick. And you know you’re sick when even reading can’t make you feel better.
So here I am, stuck in a rut. Kati can’t help me because she’s in a rut too. So what are two girls supposed to do? Ask for help.
So maybe you can help us out. What do you do to get out of a reading rut? Do you go back and read an old favorite? Or do you just keep trying books until you find one that clicks?
Okay peeps...suggest some books for us to help us out of our reading rut and we'll let your choose two(2) books from Kati's convention stash.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Bronze Horseman trilogy and Children Of Liberty by Paullina Simons!!
ReplyDelete(Ileana A.-rafflecopter) :D
DeleteI always read some old favourites when I'm in a reading rut, like Devil In Winter by Lisa Kleypas or The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn. Or anything by Lisa Kleypas or Julia Quinn really! Historicals are my go to comfort reads :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck getting out of the rut!
If I get into a reading rut I go back to the first romance I ever read... Gone with The Wind..
ReplyDeleteI read outside my favorite genre when I'm in a reading rut. I recently read my first New Adult book -- Easy by Tammara Webber. It was awesome!
ReplyDeletejenalang(at)live(dot)com
I know what you mean about being in a rut. I've been in a historical rut for a few months now and I really need to start reading them again. I've just been reading contemporaires lately. Usually I either read an old favorite or try watching a mini series to help get me back in the mood. It usually works.
ReplyDeleteGood luck ladies.
I have read Graceling by Kristin Cashore and it's really good!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway :)
I enjoyed Friday Society by adrienne Dress...
ReplyDeleteI watch a romance movie. Pride and Prejudice doesn't hurt anyone or a bit of Sense and Sensibility. After a couple of movies I'm ready to jump back into the world of romance. Sometimes you have to stimulate the senses with visual imagery. Even a good paranormal romance comedy like Practical Magic or something modern Bridget Jones' Diary can break through those reading blues. :) Good luck ladies.
ReplyDeleteI usually switch up genres. For example, I normally read historical romance. I'll read a Janet Evanovich book to break the rut. :D
ReplyDeleteI too generally switch to a different genre than I have been trying to read, or read a favorite author. Some of my favorites include Larissa Ione, Eve Langlais, Kallypso Masters, Cherise Sinclair, Lynsay Sands, Kerrelyn Sparks, Delilah Marvelle, Vivian Arrend, and sooooo many more.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear that! I usually switch up genres too. For contemporary I recommend Wallbanger by Alice Clayton; for Historical PNR Firelight or Moonglow by Kristen Callihan; for straight up UF/PNR the Kate Daniels series or the Edge series by Ilona Andrews or Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs and for scifi the Sirantha Jax series by Ann Aguirre. Or you can go old skool romance and do any of the old Julie Garwood scottish romance :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a canadian french reader and not familiar with all of the english expressions! Oh, "being in a rut", that's happens to me after I read a breathtaking book, then, I search my TBR list, and none can satisfy me. It's frustrating! I understand! If I take a day break from reading, sometimes it helps. I found "The Promise" by Kate Worth. "C'est un bijou" It's a gem! Hope you find "your gem"
ReplyDeleteMy reading ruts are usually because I have no time. I have been enjoying Carolyn Brown's Spike & Spurs series. I had started with Mistletoe Cowboy, which actually is the 2nd to last in the series, & just got the rest out from the library. Not sure if you are into cowboy romances, but these books have a lot of heart. If you venture outside of the "romance" genre, I would recommend Jill Mansell. Any of her books are good & you still get the hea, but it takes a little longer to get there.
ReplyDeleteI too get into a rut when I've read a really mind blowing read . I have a hard time getting into any genre. But I do suggest Genivieve Graham's Under The Same Sky-Book 1 and Sound Of The Heart- book 2. I promise you'll love it. Then I just finished reading Khaki Warner's Runaway Brides trilogy. Very good. Good luck ladies. I know I hate it when I can't get into my reading. Hope something clicks with all the suggestions so far. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteTerry Spears has quite a few good books coming out and Sue Ellen Welfonder has some awesome Scottish Historical Romance series and books . Gotta love those Highlanders.
Carol L.
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
I have those occasionally but oddly enough it doesn't put a stop to my buying them :)
ReplyDeleteI usually just do something else for awhile. Sometimes it's good just to walk away from it. Makes you appreciate it better when you do decide to read again.
I actually had been in slump for so many months...I found a reading blog that led me to tons of reading blogs and started reading interviews. I picked two books that seemed to be liked by most and thought I would give them a try. I am loving both of them Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire I finished in 3 days and I'm half way through Hopeless by Colleen Hoover.
ReplyDeletejosiehink122026(at)gmail(dot)com
I just stop trying to find something to read. I watch TV or movies, go to a park, just something ELSE. When you look to hard, it is forced...like reading a book for class. It's not something you want to read, but rather feel like you have to.
ReplyDeleteAs for suggestions, I usually go back to Sci-Fi/Fantasy. That is where I started and even though they're not classified as Romance, they usually have a romantic thread running through them.
I know exactly what you are talking about. First, you need a break from reading. Go pig out in front of the tv (or computer) for a few days, and just watch a series or two, some old favourite movies. Then, when I am disgusted with wasting my time like that, but my head has become empty with it, I often try to read some old favourites again. Or some childrens books. You just need a guaranteed great read now, an old friend. A new book, even if it is your favourite author, won't do the trick.
ReplyDeleteYou have to find your love of reading again, and you need to relax first to do that. Don't feel bad about it either, it happens to all of us in time. It will come back, and then you will devour new books by the dozens.
I've been rereading Julie James' FBI/US Attorney series while I'm eagerly awaiting the release of "Love Irresistibly."
ReplyDeleteWhen I get into a reading rut, I actually stop reading long books for awhile. I'll read magazines, some short story collections, how to books (usually of the fashion variety), or other things that don't require a long committment. I might re-read some of my favorite passage from Jane Eyre or a play from my Tennessee Williams collection. If none of those things do it for me, I'll start renting a lot of movies and sometimes the feel of a movie might inspire me to pick up a book.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm in a reading rut I go read a book that I wouldn't normally read, perhaps a genre that I don't normally read. If it a really bad rut then I watch a BBC version of one of Jane Austin's classics or my tried and true North and South (produced by BBC) by Elizabeth Gaskell.
ReplyDeleteWhen I hit a reading rut, I usually take a break from reading for a couple days and then just browse through my tbr list or through a few blogs until I come across something that sounds interesting and pick up reading again.
ReplyDeleteI try to grab a novella from one of my favorite authors or an anthology with authors I haven't read before. They are quick to read and sometimes I find some new authors that I love.
ReplyDeleteI re-read my old and failsafe favorites when in ruts. They're jd robb's in death series and some of linda howard's old works.
ReplyDeleteI like a variety so I've never been in a reading rut! I recommend anything by Kathryne Kennedy and of course there is always Nora Roberts lol.
ReplyDeleteI keep on reading new books hoping to come across a gem. Sympathies on hitting a rut! It can be so disheartening. Have you read Moriah Densley's Song for Sophia (historical romance). I came across this book/author recently & loved it
ReplyDeleteI love read Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster and Reality Check by Karen Tuft.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest (that is, if you haven't already) reading Sylvia Day's "Bared to You". Oh my God, I couldn't put it down. Another book that touched my heart, and kept me in a grip, was Shana Galen's "The Making of a Gentleman".
ReplyDeleteI rarely revisit favorite books for a full reread. I tend to pull out books and reread favorite scenes. When I find myself in a rut I just keep reading through until something clicks. If I get lucky and one of my favorite authors has a new book out, I'll pick it up. Usually that kicks me back into gear. I recently read Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry. It had some issues but it blew me away. It was YA that was smart and real. Lori Armstrong just published her latest Mercy book. I haven't gotten my copy yet but those books have all be books that I just couldn't put down. I also recently read the Delilah Marvelle book Forever and a Day and I loved it! There were a couple of head scratching moments but the story was so lovely that I almost jumped right into the next book in the series. That's high praise for me! I don't know if you read fantasy, but Jacqueline Carey is my go to for amazing writing. Her Kushiel's series is so amazing. If you give it a try, just hold on through the first 75 pages because I thought the treatment Phedre received in the first 75 pages was hard to embrace. Good luck getting out of your rut!
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteSo some recent books that I loved are: Courtney Milan's The Duchess War, Jennifer Ashley's Mackenzie series, Roni Loren's Crash Into You. Hope you get out of your rut soon!
Thanks for the chance
Pam
tpibrew@msn.com
I recently read a bunch of Janet Chapman's books - started with her Highlander series - it's an interesting mix of contemporary and paranormal with a bit of historical thrown in. Continuing in the storyline is her Midnight Bay trilogy. And now she's continued again with her current series Spellbound Falls (the 4th book coming out in March). It's a lot of books but I enjoyed reading them all and will read the rest (and her other books too).
ReplyDeletesallans d at yahoo dot com
Hi Jamie!
ReplyDeleteI love when you "give away" Kati's books!
I know exactly what you're talking about "getting in a rut"! As you and Kati well know I love, really love, historical romance! On the other hand once in a while I have to read a really good and different contemporary romance as well!
My latest "great find" I'm reading right now is Karen Erickson's Game for Marriage! It's sexy, unexpected and definitely keeping me up at night trying to finish it! The bad news is my husband keep taking my Kindle away to read one of HIS stories! Note to self: The next time you buy a really great book buy both a ebook AND hard copy!