Get to Know the Reviewer: English Rose of Clean Romance Reviews

Our Get to Know You guest today is English Rose of Clean Romance Review. (Yes, that's her reviewer name.) Welcome! Thanks for joining us today.

JDP: Did your mother read to you as a child?

English Rose: Yes.  I remember her reading all kinds of kids books to me.  And my older sister - we liked to read together.  I don't really remember what we read, but we did.  Then I remember a lot of reading on my own as a kid too.  Trips to the library with my mom and siblings was awesome and regular.

JDP: Do you remember a favorite book from your childhood?

English Rose: Favorite book?  Not per se, but there was one that was memorable.  It was called Christina's Ghost (by Betty Ren Wright?) and I was probably 9 or 10 when I read it.  But I got so freaked out by the story partway through that I put it down for like two weeks and wouldn't even walk near it.  Eventually I did finish it though - and oddly enough I love ghost stories now.  :)  I also remember reading The Dark Is Rising Series by Susan Cooper when I was young - awesome series!

JDP: Name a favorite author as an adult

English Rose: Well that's an unfair question!  Since discovering so many wonderful authors while doing my blog, I'm not sure I could pick.  Besides, I'm not sure I could pick.  I will tell you that I enjoy Georgette Heyer, Orson Scott Card and Susan Cooper (all authors I liked as a teen).  

JDP: (Oooo, Georgette Heyer is my hero! Or I guess I should say, heroine.) Share a book you’ve read multiple times.

English Rose: Hmmmm.....anything I actually own (I'm a library kind of girl).  Georgette Heyer, Tarzan, Harry Potter, Twilight, Ender's Game, etc.  If I own it, I've probably read it many times.  I often get the urge to read late at night and (until recently) the only choices at that time of night were what was on my shelf.  It's not uncommon for me to read a book 5-6 times.

JDP: Ah, you’re a girl after my own heart. J Now, very important question: Kindle, Nook, or good old hard copy?

English Rose: Although I'm saving up for some kind of e-reader, I haven't decided which one to get yet.  Nothing will ever beat a paperback though.  I love the feel of holding it up and turning the pages.  One of my favorite smells in the world is books - the dustier the better.  :)  Another reason I like libraries.  Hardbacks are good too, but paperbacks are my favorite.

JDP: I bought a Kindle in January, but I’m finding I’m still clinging to hard copy books, too. As you say, I love the feel of them in my hands, the ability to flip through pages (instead of punching a button to go back one page at a time), even being able to stick my fingers in three separate spots so I can look back and forth. I suppose there are electronic equivalents, but it’s just not the same. What’s your favorite place to read?

English Rose: Well, I usually end up reading in bed, after everyone else is asleep.  But my favorite place?  To be honest, my grandmother used to have a ski cabin that we would visit in the summertime.  She had an old-fashioned rocking chair next to her bookcase of Regency Romances.  It was the best place to read ever!  I guess that would translate over to reading on the couch now.  :)

JDP: What are your three favorite reading genres?

English Rose: Romance!  Okay, let's see. 1- I love historical romance.  I was an Archaeology major in college and have always loved history.  Combining that with romance it is just a natural favorite.  Regency England, Medieval European, American anything....it's all so much fun!  2- I must say I think I like fantasy romance as well.  There is something about being drawn into an entirely different world where all the rules are different, except the rules of the heart.  3- Christmas romance is definitely a favorite too.  It's not a normal genre, but one I consider as a genre.  Christmas is the best, most wonderful and magical season ever!  Combine that with falling in love and you can't beat it.  

JDP: What’s the last book you read?

English Rose: The answer to this changes several times a week, so this is hardly fair.  I did just finish one last night - Count Down to Love by Julie Ford.  But you should really check my blog for the most recent books I've read.  I don't read much but romance, so they all get put up there.

JDP: What are you’re reading now?

English Rose: Again, this changes a lot too, but I just started The Wrong Path by Vivian Marie Aubin de Paris.  

JDP: What’s next on your reading list?

English Rose: Hmmm....I can't really tell you.  I have lots of books on the list - I think I was at around 20 or so last time I checked, but I don't know which one will be next.  It will depend some on if I want to read a paperbook or an e-book next.  I never decide out the exact order ahead of time - so I can mix things up a bit as I go.

JDP: What you would like to read more of? (author, genre, etc)

English Rose: Mostly, the books I look forward to are the later books in a series.  Right now, I am anxiously awaiting books in the Marina's Tales Series, Rogue Heart Series, Bloodstone Saga, Echoes series and many others, including yours Joyce!  I love reading series or connected books - probably because I already know I like the way the author writes and some of the characters.  :)

JDP: Well, you just put a big smile on my face. J Thanks, Jennifer! Can you share a favorite book that you’ve read in the last 12 months?

English Rose: Again, how is that fair to pick just one?  *sigh*  J  I'll tell you about one I got from the library.  It was Call Me Mrs Miracle by Debbie Macomber.  It was actually my first Debbie Macomber book ever.  It was a totally cute story that was easy to imagine as a Lifetime Movie (which did happen).  The characters were sweet and fun and totally believable.  Christmas magic sparkles in the air and you come to believe that there are times that you really can get just about anything for Christmas.  For my full summary and review, click here: http://cleanromancereviews.blogspot.com/2011/02/call-me-mrs-miracle.html

More about English Rose! : I grew up in California and will always be a California girl at heart.  I started reading romances when I was a teenager and my grandmother lent me one of hers - been reading them ever since.  After high school I left California, never to return (yet).  I attended college at Brigham Young University.  It was there that I met and married my wonderful husband.  We have two little boys now that keep me busy and laughing.

My review site is called Clean Romance Reviews.  I review romances without the bedroom scenes, and other such inappropriateness that gets in the way of the story.  ;)  I do all kinds of genres from historical to paranormal, fantasy and young adult.  I love reading and I love being able to share with others great titles that they don't have to be wary about reading.  Like everything wonderful in my life it's because of my husband - he gave me the idea to start my blog and is continuously supportive of me.