Today we have Barb as a guest, I figure I have been on her blog enough times I would put her on the hot seat. Here are her answers to the questions I sent.

!. Without making this into a self-interest article, what is one of your favorite series on the market today, something that isn’t the EC or about Tantalus.

I’m sure you know the answer to this, as you hear me talk about them all the time. It is a tie between J.D. Robb’s In Death series, and Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling.   They are different, but equally fantastic with every book in the series.

2. What attracts you to a book?

The description (blurb) of the book is very important. If it catches your interest that could be the hook you need. If it is in a genre I enjoy, even better. Nice covers can get you to look at the book, but if the blurb doesn’t get you, the cover will not matter.

3. What holds your interest in a storyline? And what turns you off one?

Becoming invested in the characters always keeps your interest. I enjoy a good romance that builds, with us rooting for the couple, or one that is exciting & suspenseful, with great characters, including the secondary ones.

A poorly plotted storyline, or too many details or just characters who may have no chemistry or you just do not like them. I am also not a fan of full erotic books, I prefer a steamy romance as part of a great story, not to be all sex and no real story.

4. What area of a bookstore do you shy away from, besides the kiddie section?

I do not look in the Biographies section, as I do not really enjoy those. The same for poetry. Neither one of these will keep my attention. As noted above, I have no interest in checking out the Erotica section.

5. We all read books that are not as well written at times, yet return to read the following book in the same series (if it is a series). Why would you do that?

If I have series that I love, I will always read them. If it’s a big series, there might be times that one book in the series is not as good as the others, but I will always go back, if I am a fan of the series.

6. Who was your first book boyfriend, do you remember? They say you always remember your first. 😉

I truly do not remember, as I know I am forgetting a few, but Mr. Darcy and Steve Morgan (Rosemary Rogers) come to mind. However, that being said there is only one Roarke, even if he came later on. J

7. If you could live in a series, any series, for a period of time, which one would you choose and why?

I have a lot of favorite series, and picking one is hard. I would love to spend time on those ranches with those hot cowboys. In the world of paranormal, it would be nice to have the abilities of the Dark series Carpathians or being a shifter in the Pys/Changeling world.

Your Elven Chronicles series would be fun, but those ladies have too many children, so forget it. lol

8. Do you have a favorite series where you hate some of the characters? What keeps you hooked?

In Anne Bishop’s Black Jewel’s series, I hated, with a passion, some of the villains. They were awful. But it is a fantastic series, with some wonderful characters, including the heroine, and the two main male leads. It is the mark of a good author that has you screaming and cheering when each of those villains meet their just ends.   One of the best older series.

9. What would you like to see happen with one of the series you are following?

I am happy with the way my favorite series are going. I would not change anything, except to keep it going for a long long time.

10. To name a few, give us some of the names of your favorite authors, and why you like them.

Another loaded question. Lol I have a huge list of authors I love. I’ll just list my top two to stay out of trouble.   Nora Roberts/JD Robb & Nalini Singh (love both Psy/Changeling & Guild Hunters). Their characters are wonderful, and the stories are always exciting and flow perfectly. I will add that I discovered G.A. Aiken’s Dragon Kin series last December and fell in love with Shelley Laurenston (aka Aiken). What a wonderful sense of humor.

11. What do you like about running the blog you write? Do you have a pet peeve when it comes to dealing with some of the people you do? No names please.

I love my site and working with Sandy, my co-administrator. We are blessed to have wonderful contributors who help us. The Reading Café has been a dream come true, seeing our members enjoy and have fun on our site. It is also great working with the authors and fabulous publishers.

As for pet peeve, I would say when an author commits to do an interview, tells you they will have it to you in advance of the post, then when we get close, you don’t hear from them again, even when you email them. Frankly, that is rude. We save dates, if they didn’t want to do this, they should tell us, and allow us to find a substitute. Thankfully, this is not the norm. Most authors and publishers are great.

12. Would you ever consider writing a book yourself? If so why, if not, why not?

Yes, I have thought about it. Years ago I did write something, but life and priorities change, and time is no longer available. Now I prefer to do what I do now.

Thanks, Mary Ann, it was fun.