Monday, April 14, 2008

The Wonders Of The Used Book Sale

Every Spring there is a major used book sale near my home that I always go to. I find the most amazing books and always leave with my arms full to add to my book collection. Half of these books are ones I have never read before, the others are ones I have read and just want to keep because when I read them originally, they brought me great joy.

This past weekend I found such a book that made me gasp and do a little jig as I held it in my hands. It is a book by Sharon and Tom Curtis called The Golden Touch in a 2 for 1 book called Keepsake. This is the same book sale were I also found another great book by this retired married duo called, Lightning That Lingers. Lightning That Lingers is possibly the best category romance ever written. Along with The Golden Touch, these two books are definite keepers.

When I started reading romance, the Loveswept line was one I couldn't get enough of. That is where I first read Lightning That Lingers, the sweet tale of Jenny, the shy librarian and her romance with the sexy stripper and keeper of owls, Philip. I have read this book more times than I can count and every time it is just as good as the first.

The Golden Touch is about Kathy who lives in a small town and owns a shop that fixes musical instruments. Her life changes when superstar singer and actor, Neil Stratton walks in. From that moment on he courts her with everything he has in his power to make her his.

The Curtis' had a way of writing wonderful and sexy romances that were heavy on the courtship and the path to that final moment when the man and woman fell into each other's arms and made love. They wrote the best love scenes in a very respectful and loving way. The heroine always saw stars and fireworks. But these feelings they experienced when they became one with their hero wasn't at all tacky. It was joyful and beautiful and what true love is all about.

If you have never have had the chance to go to one of these sales, I urge you to so so. The smells, the people and the wall to wall books makes for a fun time. There always seem to be an overabundance of Nora Roberts, Julie Garwood and some hidden gems of nice historical romances.

For those who have gone to one, what was your biggest find that made you do a little dance and hold onto that book like it was the best treasure you were lucky enough grab?

Katiebabs (KB)

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

First: I hate you. There is nothing, you hear me? nothing like that around here. *sob*

*sniff*

There is a small "friends of the library" used book store in the basement at my local library, but so far I haven't found any gems there... *sigh*

And I still haven't read anything by the Curtises, which drives me crazy 'cause a lot of people whose tastes I trust rave about them.

*pout*

*stomping foot*

*sniff*

Ana said...

^ What she said ^ word by word.

:)

Stacy~ said...

Yeah, and I third that.

I do have a friend (Kati) who generously lent me her copy of "The Windflower", and I adored it. Made me want to go out and find more by the Curtises.

I think the first book I ever read by Brockmann was a Loveswept, and I've been hooked ever since.

Kristie (J) said...

ROTFL!!!!
OK I was thinking that too but wasn't going to say it but Azteclady went ahead and said it anyway, so I'll admit it - I am so green this moment. Not so much for your find because (sorry Azteclady, Ana, Stacy) 'cause I have LTL and a number of other Curtis books, but more because of the sale you went too.
I agree with you on the Curtis's though. They really are wonderful writers and they are the authors I miss the most - them and Elizabeth Elliot.

KT Grant said...

Azteclady: You haven't read a Curtis book??
*GASP*
Lightning That Lingers and The Windflower are musts!!

Ana: :D

Stacy: Another Windswept I have is an old Kay Hopper one before she went away from the romance genre to mystery suspense. :(

Kristie: I wouldn't be surprised if you have almost every romance ever written!

nath said...

You're sooooo lucky. I agree with azteclady, I hate you :( although, I'm with everyone, I haven't read Curtises, do not know who s/he are... anyway, you're soooooooo lucky. There's only one Used Book Sale worth going in Montreal and it's the McGill Book Fair.

Carolyn Crane said...

Oh, I love that feeling of finding a treasure at one of those and you pick it up and you're just like, HELLO.

I like when people have written their names in the cover.

Anonymous said...

Rub it in, why don't you?

*sniff*

KT Grant said...

Tthere there Aztec*
Half.com or Amazon has a bunch of OOP Curtis reads for reasonable prices.
Go forth and buy Lighting That Lingers!
I want a review from you :D

Kati said...

I *love* LTL! I bought it last year (I won't mention how much I paid, 'cause damn, that's embarassing). You gotta love a stripper/ornithologist. LOL! I also bought Sunshine and Shadows and the Golden Touch last year. I adore both.

Strange timing, Katie, I actually have a review of The Windflower up at RNTV today. IMHO, it's the best romance ever written. Truly. We lost giants when they decided to stop writing.

Anonymous said...

*obediently trotting off to amazon*



*sniff*

Unknown said...

That’s it I now know what to tell my family to get me for Birthday’s and Christmas’s! I’m going to start giving them list of used books that I want that they need to find :o)

Wendy said...

How sad is this? I own LTL and haven't read it yet. I can hear Kristie screaming "Wendy, Wendy, Wendy!" all the way from Canada. One of these days.....

KT Grant said...

WENDY???! Never read LTL?
I may have to bring my book to San Fran for you to read!

ReneeW said...

I think LTL is my favorite Curtis book of all time, even more than The Windflower although I love that too. I think I got mine at our annual library book sale which they have discontinued *sob...* So sad. Love the baby owls and the stripper. BTW, Wendy has some awesome books in her TBR... I would love to get a look at it and maybe "borrow" something. :)

KT Grant said...

ReneeW: I use to love the Loveswept line. I still have a few somewhere in my huge book pile.