What’s on Your Nightstand?

The books on my nightstand tend to be inspirational historicals since that’s what I write. But every so often, I get in the mood for a funny, contemporary romance. I recently discovered Beth Pattillo’s Jane Austen-based novels and they totally fit the bill!

I’ve read Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart and The Dashwood Sisters Tell All. If I had to choose, I’d say the latter was my favorite. Each book is based around one of Jane Austen’s books and some aspect of her life. The characters are flawed but lovable, the romance is clean but exciting, and the conflict is superb. And of course, you’ve got the underlying humor throughout.

What books are on your nightstand? What genre(s) do you tend to read most? What book or author have you recently discovered that you’re excited about?

*Pictures are from here.

Share with:

FacebookTwitterPinterest


36 thoughts on “What’s on Your Nightstand?”

  1. I have one of my mss on the night table and until yesterday, an ARC of The Shadow of Your Smile by Susan May Warren. I have 2 books on hold at the library, so it's bare until they come in. One by Irene Hannon and one by Lynette Eason. Romantic Suspense. 🙂

  2. Oohhh, I haven't heard of those books, but I just might have to find them. They sound GREAT!

    On my nightstand? At the moment, "The Art of War for Writers" by James Scott Bell. It's so packed of great info, and the chapters are short and make for a great quick read before bedtime. 🙂

  4. Jess – I need to read some romantic suspense – it's been a long time!

    Sarah – I've heard of this one, but haven't read it. Sounds intriguing.

    Wendy – Isn't it funny how we sometimes rush through one read so we can get to another? 🙂

  5. There are so many books on my nightstand that I don't know what I have. I tend to love historical romance and romantic suspense the best. Inspy or not. I just read my first Anne Tyler book, which seems to be a more literary fiction, but I liked it alot.
    These books sound really cute. 🙂

  7. Right now I have none because I just did a big cleaning. Plus I give away all the books that I love to other people so that they can read them too. But I just won a copy of Variant on Allie Condie's blog and I cant wait to read that.

  8. Jessica – I've never read Anne Tyler, but I'll have to check her stuff out.

    Loree – Love it! Fairer Than Morning is on my list to read.

    Jessie – I'm in between books right not too. 🙂 Gotta make another trip to the library.

  9. I am kinda all over right now. I have YA Contemporary, Dystopia, and YA Urban Fantasy. Oh, and tons of kids books. We are on a Roald Dahl morathon. I haven't read a historical book in a while. I think I might have to add one to my list. Do you have any suggestions that aren't Jane Austenesk?

  10. LOVE those covers 😀

    I'm reading The. Bestest. Ramadan. Ever.

    And I'll probably read another Sarah Dessen when I'm done with that.

    OH! I have an ARC I'm hoping to read on the plane tomorrow (brother's getting married) by Shannen Camp – looks way fun 😀

  11. Oh, wow. Do you count my Nook that I keep on my nightstand? The nightstand couldn't hold that many books. I like to read a wide variety of genres, but probably right now the most on my Nook would be regency romances because I got a whole bunch of Georgette Heyer books on sale. It'll balance out though.

  12. Jenny – One of my favorite historicals is She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell. The book is set in New York during the Gilded Age.

    Jolene – Aren't those covers lovely? 🙂 Sounds like you've got some great books to read right now.

    Donna – I've heard of Georgette Heyer, but I haven't read any of hers. I think my library has some.

  13. I usually only read YA. And really, I want it to have a romance in it, but I don't care if it's fantasy, paranormal, dystopic…whatever. I'll read it all.

  14. I'm currently reading the Bible, Start Something that Matters, and The Shack. All three are wonderful.

    I have yet to read a Jane Austen book, but it's on my list of books to one day read.

  15. I like Jane Austin's original works, but even though I don't read all the fan fiction surrounding her, I think it's a warm testament to the power of her writing:)

  16. I wish my nightstand was more exciting right now. It currently contains school books (which aren't usually that interesting) but I have managed to add a current contemporary as well as some religious fiction. The rest of my fantasy novels are in the office – a pile of TBR for after the semester!

  18. Those sound fun! I am reading a sci-fi novel called Into the Dark. I tend to read mostly sci-fi, but I like to get other stuff once in a while too.

  19. Erin – I'm with you. I gotta have a little romance in there. 🙂

    Kym – I've read a couple Jane Austen. I think my favorite is Mansfield Park.

    Mark – So true! What I like about Beth Patillo's books is that she doesn't try to rewrite any of Austen's stuff. Instead her books are more based around her life and surviving (real or made-up) relics of her life.

    Abby – Good luck with school!

    Jenny – Hope you like it!

    Angie – I've not read a lot of sci-fi, but like I said above, give me a little romance with it and I'm probably game. 🙂

  20. Stacie,

    So good to see you visit our blog! Angie is the superstar of the blog–posting every day other than Tuesday, which is mine. 🙂 I'm thinking of calling it Two-cent Tuesday??? Anyway,the movie that caused my eyes to swell, is "17 Miracles". I am usually so hesitant to watch LDS Church films because they are usually beyond sappy. BUT, this is a true story of course about the Willie and Marten Handcart companies and I just finished reading a book about it, so I watched it. I needed to write a post for the blog and all I could think of were those freezing people out in the Wyoming wilderness. It wasn't an academy award winner or anything, but for the five reasons I mentioned, I was completely sucked in. 🙂 Thanks for commenting and hopefully I'll see you next Tuesday. I loved this post from you and can't wait to check out those books. I'm a sucker for anything Jane Austen. 🙂

  21. Your blog is gorgeous and your novel choices are to die for. The cover art leaves me breathless *adds to christmas list*

    I recently fell in love with Allie Larkin, her debut novel STAY was divine. Other than that I adore women's ficion/chick lit and Miranda Dickinson, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and Claire Cook are some of my favorites.

  23. Sara – I've heard that movie is really well done. I'll have to check it out. I've been there to the site in Wyoming and was very touched.

    Jen – Welcome! I love chick-lit too. I'll have to check out those authors.

    Angie – I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn too – it turned out to be SO different from what I'd always expected the book to be.

  24. These look really good! The books on my nightstand right now are The Beyonders by Brandon Mull and The Help. Pretty sure they aren't in the same genre. lol
    I tend to read YA a lot more than adult, so we'll see how I do with The Help. 🙂

  25. Those Jane Austen books sound like fun reads… Right now I just put down "Tinkers" (which won the Pultizer Prize but that I could NOT get through), and picked up a YA novel called "Heist Society,"… sometimes you just need something lighthearted …

  26. Chantele – Hope you like The Help. I thought it was a great book and the movie was very well done too.

    Kim – I know what you mean about needing "light-hearted" stuff sometimes. That's why I was excited to discover these books by Beth Patillo. Fast, light-hearted reads but with some substance too.

  27. My nightstand is a mess and the books are piled so high they are beginning to fall. My husband always comments that there is no way a person could be reading all of it at once. I guess you have to be a writer to get it.

    I have about three mystery/suspense novels, THE PLOT WHISPERER, my new favorite how to book by Martha Alderson, 6 notebooks, a thesaurus, my flip dictionary & a stack of books authored by fellow bloggers in a many genres.

    I sound pathetic, like I have no life. Oh well. I like it the way it is.

    It is nice to meet you. I am a new follower

  29. Jane Austen is one of my favs. Truly. I haven't read the books you mentioned, but they sound intriguing. Persuasion is actually my fav. I'm embarrassed to admit the # or type of books at my bedside table. Because there are too many. My demon husband keeps promising to build me a bookshelf, but never delivers. Urgh. I don't read a ton of contemporary, but I love to read/write urban fantasy/paranormal romance and I especially love to read historical romance. I'll be a beta reader anytime you have a need! Great post.

  30. Mina – I like Persuasion too, especially the newest BBC version! In fact I just watched it again last night. 🙂 Thanks for the offer to beta read my historical romances – I'll definitely keep you mind when that time comes!

  31. Those books sound so great! I just started reading Divergent, and I actually don't have the next one after that picked out. I guess I'll wait and just see what I'm in the mood for then. 🙂

  32. I just won the book (W)hole by Lisa Whittle and so far really enjoy it.I have a long list of women's fiction to take out of the library as soon as I get my card!

  33. Peggy – I've heard good things about Divergent.

    Terri – I'm headed to the library today and hope to find some good books, especially with all these ideas everybody's given me. 🙂

Comments are closed.