Fresh Fiction Blog | Adrienne Giordano

Call me crazy, but I love January. For me, January means getting over that winter hump and looking ahead to spring.

The thing I won't do in January is set New Year's resolutions. Maybe I'm a party-pooper, I don't know. All I know is that the last New Year's resolution I set was giving up chocolate. If you know me at all, you know the idea of this is laughable. I have a ferocious yearning for dark chocolate. I eat one piece every day. That one piece is enough to keep my cravings satisfied and it's only 52 calories (I did my research on that calorie count).

Yet, I still tried to convince myself I could give it up. Forever.

Forever lasted 22 hours.

In less than a day I'd blown my New Year's resolution. For whatever reason, when I call a goal a resolution, I tend to fail at reaching that goal. Sad, but true.

So, instead of setting resolutions, I like to think of the new year as a chance to look back on the previous months and take stock of what I'd like to do differently going forward. It's also a chance for me to think about new adventures I'd like to take or projects I wouldn't mind exploring. Personally speaking, that seems a whole lot more positive than setting myself up for failure (let's not forget about the 22 hour chocolate disaster).

Now that I've shared what I don't do on New Year's Day, I'll tell you the thing I always do. I always start a book. It has become my unspoken tradition. There's something about starting a book on New Year's Day that bodes well with kicking off the year. Maybe it's simply that I allow myself the down time to enjoy my favorite indulgence (chocolate aside, of course) and escape into a great story.

There's a certain magic for me when I find a book that lets me block out all distractions and experience a character's journey. And isn't that what reading should be about? The magic? The simple pleasure of it. The love of good books is what keeps me coming back to reading time and again. When I find one that completely enthralls me, forget it, I'm nearly delirious with joy and my family knows I'll have my head in the book for a good while. In fact, it's not unusual to hear my husband say "Leave Mom alone. She's in the zone."

This year, I think I'd like to spend more time in the zone. I'm not going to make it a resolution though. ? I'm just going to make the time to do it. And if I'm going to do it, I'll need a bunch more books.

Readers, what books have you read recently that put you in the zone?

Bio:

Adrienne Giordano writes romantic suspense and women's fiction. She is a Jersey girl at heart, but now lives in the Midwest with her workaholic husband, sports obsessed son and Buddy the Wheaten Terrorist (Terrier). She is a co-founder of Romance University blog. For more information on Adrienne's Private Protectors series please visit www.AdrienneGiordano.com. Adrienne can also be found on Facebook and Twitter. Buy her book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Carina Press

Comments

I know exactly what you're talking about when you mention the zone. I can't remember the last time, it's been so long. I've ready a lot of good books in the last couple of years, some where I stayed up late to read just a little bit more or to finish, but nothing that put me in the zone.
(Anne Muller 11:06am January 11, 2012)

I wish we could edit comments after we post, I hate typos. That should be I've READ a lot of good books...
(Anne Muller 11:07am January 11, 2012)

Hi Anne. No worries on the typo. I knew what you meant. :) I read Lisa Gardner's Live To Tell over the holidays and that one put me in the zone. If you're a parent, I'll warn you ahead of time, the subject matter is not easy reading, but (as usual with Lisa Gardner) the writing is fantastic.

Thanks for posting!
(Adrienne Giordano 11:48am January 11, 2012)

I am with you on that....lol....everytime I want to read, I get my book, a blanket and a glass of wine and go sit in my (quiet) chair and read for hours and everyone knows to leave me alone because that is my time. The only quiet time I ever get....
(Dawn Staniszeski 12:18pm January 11, 2012)

I love when a book has me in the zone... stay up no matter how late because I can not put it down... the last one I read was Dreaming Of The Wolf by Terry Spear...
(Colleen Conklin 1:32pm January 11, 2012)

Hi Dawn. I have a confession to make. When I was trying to finish the Lisa Gardner book I mentioned I went and hid in the garage so I couldn't hear the phone, the television, the dog or the people in my house. I was close to the end and everything was going crazy so I hid! A girl has to do what a girl has to do.

Hi Colleen. I'll check out Dreaming of The Wolf. I love discovering new books!

Thanks for posting, ladies!
(Adrienne Giordano 2:39pm January 11, 2012)

A new year is a wonderful new start!
Blessings,
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 3:31pm January 11, 2012)

Looking forward to reading this interesting book.
(Diane Pernick 4:42pm January 11, 2012)

I think the last book I read that put me in the zone was City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, I couldn't wait to read the next one after that.
(Linda Henderson 5:52pm January 11, 2012)

I LOVE getting into The Zone...among the books that take me there are J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood, as does Lara Adrian's Midnight Breed series - and Karen Marie Moning's MacKayla Lane series - I just see all of these characters so clearly in my mind...they are part of my family - really!
(Felicia Ciaudelli 6:18pm January 11, 2012)

I hope I can win this fabulous book I need some excitement here..
(Beverly Youngblood 6:40pm January 11, 2012)

The most recent book I've read that really put me in the zone was A Stolen Life by Jaycee DuGard. I read over half the book in one sitting. It was unbelievable how that little girl accepted and adjusted to her abductors treatment. I also read Sarah Jio's first book, Violets of March and am anxiously awaiting her second book, Bungalow, which was just released. I was in the zone with the first one...it was so good, and I know the second one will be too, from the storyline and review I've read about it. I don't have an e-reader for ebooks so I'm not in the high-tech zone yet!
(Linda Luinstra 6:54pm January 11, 2012)

I like the topic of your recent book.
Good luck with your New Year resolutions, I've already given up on mine for this year. Sigh.
(Marilyn Legault 7:43pm January 11, 2012)

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo! I positively vibrated when I finished it. In fact, I got book 2 off the shelf and had to stop myself from starting to read it right away. I had so much work to do!
(Jennifer Beyer 9:52pm January 11, 2012)

I recently read Alexandra Hawkins Before Sunrise with a notorious lord, I couldn't put it down! So yep I'd say I was in the zone, exspeically when I look at my clock and realized it was 2 A.M.!!!
[email protected]
(Savannah Miller 10:07pm January 11, 2012)

Sounds like a book I really would enjoy reading.
(Ann Hengst 10:24pm January 11, 2012)

Last book to put me in the zone was Kristen Hannah's Night Road - I stayed up all night to finish it.
(Mary C 10:33pm January 11, 2012)

Book sounds very interesting. Thanks for giving me a chance to win it.
(Linda Hall 10:49pm January 11, 2012)

Hi, Diane. Thanks for your interest in my book. Michael and Roxann have a special place in my heart. :)

Thanks for the suggestion, Linda. I love the title. I will put it on my list.

Felicia, I know exactly what you mean by the characters being part of your family. I always hate when a book I love comes to an end. I never want to say goodbye to the characters.

Beverly, I hope we can bring you some excitement! :)

Hi, Linda. Oh, the Jaycee DuGard book. I haven't read it, but I would imagine it's a book that stays with you for a while. And no worries if you don't have an e-reader, if you win, I can send you a PDF you can read on your computer.

Marilyn, don't worry about those resolutions. Who needs 'em anyway? :)

Jennifer, I just might be the only person left who hasn't read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. It's in my pile to read though!

Savannah, I love that feeling of not wanting to put a book down. As a reader, I don't know that there is anything better. I think it's the greatest complement a writer can receive.

Hi, Ann. Thanks for stopping in.

Mary, I love Kristen Hannah's books. I haven't read Night Road yet though so I will be adding it to the list.

Wow, such a great list I'm compiling! Thank you all.
(Adrienne Giordano 10:50pm January 11, 2012)

I zone out to the newest Jayne Ann Krentz book, every time. I just picked up Copper Beach, so I'll be zoning out Saturday.
(Lisa Kendall 11:06pm January 11, 2012)

Karen Robards' books put me in the zone. I loved Shattered. And Sleepwalker is
the next book I'll read. Also, Erin McCarthy's Flat Out Sexy.
(Tammy Yenalavitch 11:18pm January 11, 2012)

I'm always in a zone when I read a Nicolas Sparks novel.
(Sheila True 11:22pm January 11, 2012)

Sounds like a great book. I would love the chance to win it.
(Jan Capstick 12:44pm January 12, 2012)

Most of the time, I can get totally lost in a lot of books. The last one was "Sword at Sunset" about King Arthur by Rosemary Sutcliff. The only problem I had was that it was quite a long book, hardcover with 480 pages, and I had to make too many interruptions. And like all historical novels, it had real people and places in it. Therefore, I often took a look on the Internet or in a book for more facts.
(Sigrun Schulz 1:11am January 12, 2012)

The last book I was entirely in the zone was The Emperor's Edge by Lindsay
Buroker, and I devoured the two sequels.
(Hyunjin Jeon 3:01am January 12, 2012)

Books are my salvation, I can loose myself in a good story.
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 6:50am January 12, 2012)

I love to read and use my imagnation. Getting in the zone is a bonus!
(Alexis Todd 8:09am January 12, 2012)

HI ADRI! SO MANY LOVELY BOOKS TO READ! THANK YOU FOR
COMING!!
(Linda Bass 9:34am January 12, 2012)

Sounds like an interesting book - and one I'd love to win. Best of luck with it. Happy 2012.
(Nancy Reynolds 10:24am January 12, 2012)

Hi Lisa. I love Jayne Ann Krentz! I really enjoy her Amanda Quick books also. Thanks for stopping in.

Tammy, thanks for the suggestion. I'll add Shattered to my TBR pile. I have Karen's books on my shelf, but haven't read Shattered yet.

Sheila and Jan, thanks for popping by. I enjoy a good Nicholas Sparks book as well. So many great authors mentioned!

Hi Sigrun. I love reading a historical that sucks me into all the details. The internet makes it so easy to check out things that are mentioned in the book. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll add it to the list!

Ashley, a good sequel can't be beat, can it? That's why I love reading books in a series. We get to revisit the characters.

Marjorie, Alexis and Linda, thanks for saying hello. I hope you all get in the zone soon! :)
(Adrienne Giordano 10:31am January 12, 2012)

I don't make resolutions either. They remind too much of a parent or teacher
saying "You HAVE to do this or that" at which point I automatically rebel.
Immature of me but that's the way it is. I am never without a book in my hand
so remembering which book put me in the zone at a particular time is near
impossible. What strikes my mood at one particular time doesn't at another
so I make it a practice to let those around me choose their own. What ever
book you choose--ENJOY!
(Sandra Spilecki 11:05am January 12, 2012)

I recently read Sorcery & Cecilia and loved it. It really made me not want to put it down.
(Pam Howell 12:14pm January 12, 2012)

Hi, Sandra. I always have a book handy myself. I throw my ereader into my purse and off we go. Thanks for stopping by.

Pam, Sorcery & Cecilia is a wonderful title. I'm off to check it out. Thanks!
(Adrienne Giordano 1:00pm January 12, 2012)

wow thanks for the give way the book looks great and then
ihope you do great this coming year and would love to read t he book and blog
(Desiree Reilly 2:00pm January 12, 2012)

I would love to win a copy of the book. I do know what you mean about being
in the zone. Its been a while since I have been that captivated by a book--
however I do admit that when I do find a book that puts me in the zone--I am
no longer in the world but the book's world! When I finish reading such a
book--I look for more books by that author!
(Susan Mahaffey 3:47pm January 12, 2012)

Right now I'm reading The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I'm lost in a different world every night when I pick up the book. It's really hard to put it back down! I used to tell my kids when they were younger that you don't need drugs to escape...just a really good book! I firmly believe that! And, I have had some wonderful escapes!
(Sandy Fielder 6:20pm January 12, 2012)

Susan, I love that feeling when I'm caught up in a story I forget about everything else. Such fun!

Hi Sandy. I completely agree. My son is hooked on The Hunger Games trilogy and I love to watch him just sit and read.

Thanks for stopping by, ladies!
(Adrienne Giordano 9:08pm January 12, 2012)

January has always been the beginning of bitter cold here... :(
(TinaMarie R 12:14pm January 13, 2012)

I am reading Awakening Mercy by Angela Benson. This is a great book but I have no time to get into the zone. Things should quiet down soon.
(Kathleen Yohanna 6:48am January 13, 2012)

HI, I hope I get a chance to read this book!
(Jennifer Kromrie 9:36am January 13, 2012)

Thanks for a great post! I've actually just got over a reading slump and I'm feeling awesome (especially since my TBR pile is ginormous - physical and electronic). I just finished Lord and lady Spy by Shana Galen. It was very fun and I stayed up a wee bit late to finish it.
(Erin Fender 10:53am January 13, 2012)

I recently read IN CLOSE by Brenda Novak and DEADLY INTENT by Kylie Brant. On those nights while I was reading them, I finally had to force myself to put them down around four o'clock in the morning. It's a good thing I'm retired and don't have a set schedule.
(Anna Speed 12:15pm January 13, 2012)

Mysteries, thrillers, suspense and romance get me in the zone. Especially books by Joseph Finder and Louisa Edwards.
(Alyson Widen 6:55pm January 13, 2012)

The last book I read that put me in the zone was Tina Reber's Love Unscripted. I love that book
(Kim Stogner 8:49pm January 13, 2012)

I do not make resolutions, because I forget them that fast. I read whenever I can and since I'm in a cast and unable to work, I have read a book every other day. I read all kinds of books and my TBR pile is so far down, I need more.
(Pat Freely 8:56pm January 13, 2012)

I am thrilled about winning an e-book copy of Risking Trust. I can hardly wait to start reading. Thanks so much!
(Diane Pernick 12:53pm January 20, 2012)

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