I only really remember the covers of RS. But I know I liked them!

I am also "aunt" who gives books. (I am actually mother's friend).

Actually, my friend gave me a lovely copy of "Theatre Shoes" for Christmas a few years ago. I gave her "The Old Fashioned Girl" and "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", which I so waffled about because my firend's husband is an alcholic.

I also need a recommendation of a well-written romance novel. My male friend who is really into sci fi ish stuff, but also Shakespeare, doesn't believe there is a romance novel that is ever "good", but said he would read one. I don't necessarily need him to like it, but just to agree that it is well-written. He also likes disney stuff (high School Musical plus all animated ones and especially Enchanted), LOTR (but not the movies), old style Dr. Who, but not the new one, Star Wars (inclusing the new ones). I'm thinking maybe Jennifer Crusie?

I recent reread Roller Skates. It's lovely to know that Lucinda with her croppy boy hair and pinafore; the whir of skates; Uncle Earle and Shakespeare; Tony and the fruit stand; and poor little Trinket are always there waiting for me. Was there ever a character as vividly drawn as Lucinda?

Aw, I remember Rollerskates! And Understood Betsy! I loved that one.

Sophia, try him on Crusie's Welcome to Temptation. Finn is a great guy character, so that may help. Plus, it's funny and sexy.

I also need a recommendation of a well-written romance novel.

The Smart Bitches have asked that question to turn a guy and had it answered more than once, but just asked it again recently. As I recall, they had a lot of answers. Want me to find the particular post?

They had a recent guy review the Cordelia books by Lois McMaster Bujold, I think as a kind of sci fi/romance cross-over.

Hmm... If you're going to give him a Crusie, then Bet Me is a pretty good choice. One of the absolute best romances I've read in the last year is Karen Templeton's Baby I'm Yours. Yes, it's a Silhouette Special Edition and I probably wouldn't have ever picked it up if it wasn't for the fact that I had to judge another one of Karen's books in the RITAs, but damn, does she write good contemporary romance with real characters dealing with real issues.

Our own Amy has a beautiful, beautiful book that unfortunately isn't on the shelves yet. *ahem*

I'll think some more.

::blushes::

My personal favorite Crusie is actually Faking It, but I love it so much I can't imagine listening to someone not like it! Also, it has been pointed out that the picture on the cover looks like me, with the scarf and the bob!

I would love a link to the smart bitches page-- and the Bujold, which is sci-fi based...hmmm. His current book is Anna Karenina, which I cannot get through!

Now I want to check out Baby I'm Yours! I don't read the Silhouettes anymore, so I never would have found it.

I do remember my mom getting bags of silhouettes and harlequins from women at work, and both of us read them, and then she shared them with other women at work.

ETA: I also want to read Amys book!

Here: [link] This links to the recs post, too.