You know how it is. You win a free book at a conference drawing, think, “Cool, I have to read this.” Then it goes into your To Be Read pile for months…or sometimes years. You really want to read the author, but you’re not too sure the story line appeals to you. You feel guilty because she signed the book for you and you know her on-line. She’s great. Surely, her books will be great. But for some reason the book you won keeps stagnating in your TBR pile. You notice the author has a new release, so you buy that one. Now you have two of her books in your TBR pile. You read the purchased one first. You love it. You adore it. You wish there was a sequel.
Months pass. You finally decide to read the book you won. You’re on the fence, because you’re still not certain the story line appeals. You start reading it. You realize you’re an idiot. You love it. You adore it. You wish she was still writing under the same name and the same style of books—fun chick lit and quirky mysteries—because you enjoy them so much. But she’s moved on to greener pastures and now publishes action-adventure romances as Alyssa Day.
I’m talking about Alesia Holliday, a talented author I wish I’d discovered sooner. Or, um, released from my TBR pile sooner.
Which books am I pimping? Blondes Have More Felons and American Idle. 
The latter I won during an RWA conference workshop drawing presented by Alicia, other authors, and an agent (or two, I can’t recall). That’s the book that unfortunately sat in my TBR pile for years. Sorry, Alesia. I didn’t think the reality TV singing show setting would appeal to me. Boy, was I wrong.
If you like, or even if you abhor, American Idol, you’ll appreciate this fun look into the behind-the-scenes life of production assistant Jules Vernon. Alesia employs a lot of laugh-out-loud humor—the kind of writing I love. Humor is very tricky to write. What works for me might not work for you, and vice versa. But Alesia’s humor works for me. I’m just sorry she didn’t get a chance to write more Alesia Holliday books.
Blondes Have More Felons is her foray into funny mysteries, featuring former corporate attorney, December Vaughn. I wish I could include the back cover copy from the books, but Alesia no longer maintains a website for her Holliday books and I’m too lazy busy with my own writing to type out the descriptions from my copies. But check out all the great reviews for both books on Amazon. If they sound like your thing, give them a chance. And don’t let them waste their funny lives away in your TBR pile, too.
Discovered any gems in your TBR pile lately? Let me know. If it’s in my pile, it’ll inspire me to dig it out. Or buy a copy to add to the ever-growing pile.
I’ll have to check these books out. I know the market made a huge turn from humorous romance to kickass action-adventure, but I’m more of a humorous romance reader. Though I do read them all. lol
Oh, Cindy, you made my day!! AM having a rainy, depressing day here and you really just cheered me up hugely. Thank you so much!! I am in the process of redoing my Alesia site, and hope to get the chance to write more of “Alesia’s” books, because I love the funny. Thank you so much!!
hugs,
alesia/alyssa
Hi Edie,
Well, I think you’ll love them. Let me put it this way. If you’ve read any of my work and think it’s halfway decently funny, you’ll love Alesia’s work.
Have you ever read her Alyssa Day novels?
Hi Alesia!
You’re totally welcome. The powers of Google Alerts, huh? Believe me, after reading your two Alesia Holliday books in my TBR pile, I was hugely kicking myself for not getting to them earlier. And you already know how much I would love to see a second December Vaughn–with a gorgeous cover–on the shelves. 😉
That’s wonderful that you are re-doing your Alesia Holliday site. So happy to hear it. Let me know when it goes up, and I’ll write another post directing readers there.
Cindy
I do that all the time–buy books and never get around to reading them…but I figure, hey, I supported the author and she gets the sale and the royalties, and I’d want someone to do that for me, even if they don’t get to the book for a while! I’m afraid I just can’t write and read at the same time. It throws me off somehow. Unfortunately, reading usually gets put aside.
Glad you found a gem.
Avery, you’re right, buying the books is the key to supporting the authors. I still think it’s good to READ them, too, LOL. But so many of us have book-buying addictions. I have classics that I bought well over 15 years ago that I plan on reading (or finishing reading – I’ve read about 50 of the 100 in the collection) when I retire. You know, when I’m 90.