Today I met Shannon and she toured me around her great city. We saw Millenium Park (a city planner’s dream!), drooled over the new romance novels at the Chicago Public Library (sooo many!!!), ate popcorn at Garretts (yum!), and ate lunch at the Chicago Diner (a vegi/vegan institution!). The grande finale: A trip to Shannon’s local used bookstore that is (sniff) going out of business. We left with armfuls of great, cheap finds. Whoot!

My treasure pile:

1. Naked in Death by J.D. Robb – In Death book #1: finally I’ll see for myself how fabulous Roarke is. My expectations are high. MaryKate snagged him first on the DIK hero round robin! KatieBabs lovely Haiku:
   Eve and Roarke have fun
   Having sex and solving crimes
   JD Robb is great!
2. Saving Grace by Julia Garwood (rec’d by Shannon)
3. Wolf at the Door by Christine Warren (the Others, book 1: rec’d by Bridget)
4. Tempting Danger by Eileen Wilks (Liked her short in On the Prowl)
5. Cover of Night by Linda Howard (Shannon has been pimping Linda Howard’s Mr. Perfect, but since they didn’t have that one, she rec’d this.)
6. Kitty and the Midnight Hour (pimped by Thea – read her review)
7. This Time Love by Elizabeth Lowell (secret babies!)
8. You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister (I already own this – so I bought one for a BLOG GIVAWAY!)

I also finally broke down and bought on this trip Twilight by Stephanie Meyers, because Naida listed it as one of her Desert Island Keepers. I have no idea why I’ve waited so long.

This week I’m in the Windy City, trying to make myself write while Mr. Wonderful is at a conference. I’m about to hit two big milestones: 200 pages and 60,000 words. Whoot! Tomorrow I’m going to meet my blogging friend Shannon, who blogs at What Women Read and DIK Ladies Rule!. She is going to give me a tour of Millennium Park, the delights of Chicago, and her favorite bookstore (Yay!). I’m really looking forward to gushing about our favorite books! Shannon stole Adam Hauptman from me in the DIK Hero Round Robin, so I’ve been sharpening my nails to steal him back. Watch out Shannon – I’m coming for him!

I read Nalini Singh‘s 2nd Psy/Changelings Book Visions of Heat (great!) on the airplane and brought two books set in Chicago with me.

Title: Storm Front
Author: Jim Butcher
Series: The Dresden Files, Book 1
Publisher: Roc, April 2000
Genre: Urban Fantasy

This will be my first full-length novel by Butcher. I enjoyed his short in My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon, which also featured Harry Dresden and his dog.

Synopsis: “The novels of the Dresden Files have become synonymous with action-packed urban fantasy and non-stop fun. Storm Front is Jim Butcher’s first novel and introduces his most famous and popular character-Harry Dresden, wizard for hire.

For his first case, Harry is called in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with the blackest of magic. At first, the less-than-solvent Harry’s eyes light up with dollar signs. But where there’s black magic, there’s a black mage. Now, that black mage knows Harry’s name. And things are about to get very…interesting.”

Or, in Haiku:

Cynical Wizard
solves magic crimes in Chi-town
with his awesome dog.

Title: It Had to be You
Author: Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Series: Chicago Stars, Book 1
Publisher: HarperCollins, March 2002
Genre: Contemporary Romance

I’ve read almost all of the Chicago Stars books (out of order, I know) and loved them. SEP is speaking at the RWA Conference in San Fran in July and my critique partner told me she’s not to be missed. What do you think of this cover??? I can’t think of another romance cover quite like it. Usually covers have pictures of half-nekid men.

Synopsis: “The Windy City isn’t quite ready for Phoebe Somerville — the outrageous, curvaceous New York knockout who has just inherited the Chicago Stars football team. And Phoebe is definitely not prepared for the Stars’ head coach Dan Celebow, a sexist jock taskmaster with a one-track mind. Celebow is everything Phoebe abhors.”

Or in Haiku:

Blond bimbo takes on
stubborn alpha football coach.
Opposites attract.

All About Romance has a search engine that allows one to search by location setting. Chicago turned out these books:

• The Firebrand by Susan Wiggs
• The Mistress by Susan Wiggs
• The Hostage by Susan Wiggs
• Wild at Heart by Patricia Gaffney
• The Savage Heart by Diana Palmer

Has anyone read any of these? What did you think?