I recently reviewed Caught Running by Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux based on a simple, “I loved this book,” from a fellow reader. I passed that recommendation on, and received another recommendation back, Matthew Haldeman-Time’s self-published book Off the Record.
Jane and I frequently trade “OMG SQUEE” email messages about books we like. Because of her happy recommendation, I’m now reading Kristan Higgins’ Just One of the Guys, and I am loving it. It’s another “Dammit I stayed up too late reading” book that totally followed me out of the bag onto the treadmill. I’m loving it.
So I got to thinking – what books are you totally loving right now? Hook us up with your latest fave – and please, don’t recommend your own book. This is word-of-mouth love it “OMG SQUEE” time for someone else’s book. It doesn’t need to be a gay romance – could be anything that you just love, maybe that doesn’t get enough attention. I’ll be picking a comment at random in 24 hours to win a paper copy of Haldeman-Time’s book (which I haven’t read yet but have been told it’s just majestically good like holy damn hell). So, what’s your pleasure romance read of late?
Vulnerable by Amy Lane.
LOVE it.
I’d started it a few weeks ago and had to put it down to get some ARCs read. Now that I’ve got a little time between those I picked it back up again and have now had, like when I read it before, two nights of very little sleep. This book is so emotionally charged and the characters, my gawd, don’t think I’ve ever read such well-developed ones. If I had no other responsibilities but bathing and eating, I’d have finished it already – it’s an all-nighter kind of read, despite that I have to put it down to do other things. I’m ordering the second, Wounded, today.
say83: I could probably say 83 more things I love about this book.
Right now I am totally digging SIMPLY WICKED by Lisa G. Riley. I got it in June and I estimate that I’ve already read it at least six or seven times. The book is funny, sexy and suspenseful. It’s about a young American actress trying to get this older stuffy British aristocrat to give into his attraction to her. I laughed so hard at their antics, hers and his family’s. I picked up earlier books by this author and didn’t like them as much, but SIMPLY WICKED is a definite keeper.
I really enjoyed Libba Bray’s “A Great and Terrible Beauty”, hve teh second of the series in my TBR and will get the third when it hits paperback. It’s a YA series but the writing is insanely skillful, the characters three dimensional and the gothic/Victorian setting is wonderful. For some reason I’m drawn to books about girls in boarding schools as well. 🙂
Another paranormal YA, also taking place in a bording school (this one co-ed) is “Evernight” by Claudia Grey. It has a nice twist on the vampire story and has a smart but layered young heroine.
I recently read “The Good Thief” by Hannah Tinti as an ARC, and it’s amazing. It’s not a romance, but if you’re a fan of Charles Dickens and/or Oliver and 18th century adventures, I highly recommend it. It’s about a young orphaned boy who’s missing a hand, a young ‘rake’ adopts him and they have a lot of misadventures. Entertainment Weekly recently gave it an A grade.
Right now I’m reading “Magic Bites” by Ilona Andrews, and I’m really enjoying it. It’s a unique paranormal and much more gory than most… which I’m actually a fan of. 🙂 Not a romance though there are some sparks in it. I’ve been getting into paranormal anthologies too, it’s nice reading a short story in-between books. “Hotter Than Hell”, edited by Kim Harrison is HIGHLY recommended. I also got the “Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance” since every author in it is pretty amazing.
OT: Have you Bitches seen the Nick & Norah trailer yet? It looks pretty good!
All my faves have been mentioned: Bujold, Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, Jennifer Crusie.
My favorite tittles are:
“Memory” by Lois MacMaster Bujold
“Magic Burns” by Ilona Andrews (second in series)
“Cry Wolf” by Briggs
“Agnes and the Hitman” and “Bet Me” by Crusie
One I haven’t seen anyone mention is Dorothy L. Sayers. While categorized as a mystery, I think “Gaudy Night” is one of the best romances ever written.
Wow, what a thread.
Put me on the Terry Pratchett bandwagon (and we met him at a book-signing right before his diagnosis, and it was one of the most fun and funny afternoons I have ever spent!). I have Making Money in the pile, delaying gratification.
Yes to Sherry Thomas; both Private Arrangements and Delicious were wonderful reads.
Lois McMaster Bujold, as others have said, but it’s her Chalion books (The Curse of Chalion, Paladin of Souls and The Hallowed Hunt) that most lately did me in. I am going to re-read them soon.
I am gradually consuming La Nora’s backlist (so late to the party, I know!). I just spent six very satisfying evenings with the Three Sisters’ Island trilogy.
I am now number nine on the library wait list for Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel’s Mercy. (I will buy it in paper to match the set, but CANNOT WAIT THAT LONG to read it). I squee over that in anticipation. I also squee’ed over Naomi Novik’s Victory of Eagles; I bought the ebook so that I could read it the day it came out, and will get the paperback for the set.
For those who like Robin McKinley, I enjoyed her latest YA book, Dragonhaven. Man, that that lady tell a story.
Gotta stop, but one more. I recently re-read, prior to recommending it to a very picky reader, Guy Gavriel Kay’s The Lions of Al-Rassan. I can never pick a favorite Kay; they are all excellent, so it depends on my mood. He writes so well that I can’t even describe how wonderful it is to read, and re-read, every one of his books. This time it’s Lions—has to be the fifth or sixth time I’ve read it, and still I laughed, cried and couldn’t put it down until the wee hours of the morning.
Wow, I had no idea there would be so much Pratchett love.
And, were I a different gender, I would love to be Nanny Ogg when I get old. She has more fun than Granny…
. . . .
Sarah, you takin’ note of this? Pratchett’s the man. I’d recommend you pick a subseries of his books and then read through them.
RincewindT
The Color of Magic
The Light Fantastic
Sourcery
Eric
Interesting Times
The Continent
Personal opinion: Amusing, but not quite as great as some of the other series…
Witches:
Equal Rites
Wyrd Sisters
Witches Abroad
Lords and Ladies
Maskerade
Carpe Jugulum
Personal Opinion: Dang, these are fun. Maskerade is an amazing, amazing take on Phantom of the Opera, and the rest are delightful. The series features three (and later four) witches, except for Equal Rites, which only has the formidable Granny Weatherwax.
Death:
Mort
Reaper Man
Soul Music
Hogfather
Thief of Time
Personal opinion: Death, that is to say, the Grim Reaper, is one of the best characters in the series. He’s sympathetic to the living while not quite understanding them, and just does his job as kindly and efficiently as possible.
City Watch:
Guards! Guards!
Men At Arms
Feet of Clay
Jingo
The Fifth Elephant
Night Watch
Thud!
Personal opinion: Highly recommended. Some of them are more mystery novels, but, wow, the characters are amazing.
Miscellaneous:
Pyramids
Moving Pictures
Small Gods*
The Truth*
Monstrous Regiment*
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents (YA)*
*Highly Recommended
Von Lipwig:
Going Postal
Making Money
Personal Opinion: Brilliant, but to get the full force of the novels, it’s best to hold off reading them. You’ll enjoy them more
Tiffany Aching (YA):
The Wee Free Men
A Hat Full of Sky
Wintersmith
Personal Opinion: Love these books and the ideas they contain. Feegles, wha hae!
I’m reading the Immortals after Dark series by Kresley Cole. Kick-ass heroines and hawt dudes make for some great escapism.
I finished Breaking Dawn a few weeks ago and it was one of the best books I’ve read in a looooooong time. It was one of those books where every time I opened it, it seemed like hours would pass and people would talk to me, all without my knowledge because I was so sucked into the story. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’ve read the rest of the series first, though.
I also really have to second Victoria Janssen’s rec for Megan Whalen Turner’s books. I read them a few years ago, but they are AWESOME. The Queen of Anatolia is one my favorite books ever.
I’ve been reading the series Chronicles of Chaos by John C. Wright (Orphans of Chaos, Fugitives of Chaos, and Titans of Chaos. OMG, I don’t even know what to say about these books. Weird, weird, weird but so. damn. good. Five students at a stuffy and bleak English boarding school (who are the ONLY students in the whole school) come to realize they are something other than human, and that the school is more of a prison. Part Harry Potter for grownups, part Greek Mythology, part rollicking escape caper, part science fiction, part philosophy… with flashes of erotica… and a strong, brilliant, flawed, hilarious, and thoroughly kick-ass teenage girl narrator.
I will second librarygirl and recommend The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson, wow, whatta story. Hard to describe but certainly a love story within a historical within a contemporary story. This is very well written and a page turner, for sure. This is his debut novel which is hard to believe, it’s that good.
Sure have enjoyed reading everyone’s recs and have quite a list to add to the ol’ TBR pile!
Hmmm, I’ve kind of been in a slump since I finished I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming, which does fit the category of book I loved and just couldn’t put down along with the rest of the series. I read the first 2 courtesy of some free e-book offers and read them in less than a day because I just couldn’t shut the computer off. I then proceeded to check the rest out from the library and it’s just a good thing that I managed to get I Shall Not Want shipped in from another branch because I was *this* close to buying it and thus breaking my no book buying vow (the Borders cashier was beginning to know me on sight).
I recently laid hands on a copy of “Escape Out of Darkness” by Anne Stuart, the first of a three-book “Maggie Bennett” series from the 80s. Anne has maintained her awesome for a damned long time. Now I have to bite the bullet and pay the collectible prices for the next two books, as I cannot live with myself if I don’t find out how our kick-ass heroine goes from a HEA with one dude to a new hero in the next book.
I am working my way through Liz Carlyle’s backlist, just started Cole’s Immortals After Dark series, and am trying to get my hands on more Karen Rose after reading “Die For Me”. For a little smokin’ hot, I picked up Charlene Teglia’s “Satisfaction Guaranteed” romantica. Truth in advertising there, ladies.
This Charming Man by Marian Keyes.
This book is hard to categorize, it isn’t romance, it isn’t chick lit. Marian Keyes is on of my very favorite authors and she doesn’t disappoint with this book. She tackles alcoholism, spousal abuse and family drama and it isn’t a light read. I couldn’t put it down.
It was pretty intense so I have moved on to some lighter fair. Read Mary Janice Davidson’s Swimming without A Net. Not much to it, but enjoyable. I am now doing a marathon series romance read. I don’t usually read them so I am looking at it as research 😉
See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson, one of my favorite contemporary romance books.
Wonderful thread! I’m so glad to see Pratchett mentioned (repeatedly). I came to mention him myself.
Pratchett, Guards! Guards! and Jingo – I’ve read all the Discworld novels, but these are my favourites. The stories are strong, the humour is obviously great, but it’s the characters who do it for me everytime. Aw, Vimes.
Stephenson, The Baroque Trilogy. Crackles with manic energy! and its sequel, Cryptonomicon. I can’t really even attempt to summarise these books. I read it best on a Facebook group – “These are these characters and this is their deal, and they do stuff.” And do it with lashings of awesome.
Chabon, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Klay – Mad, funny and touching story about 2 Jewish comic book artists who create a comic superhero in the 1940s. I don’t know anything about comic books, but this taught me a hell of a lot and made me want to learn more. Also, I love Sammy Klay and his romantic subplot – incredibly touching.
Anything by Neil Gaiman. What is there left to say about Gaiman? The man is a legend in his lifetime.
Rushdie, Midnight’s Children and The Moor’s Last Sigh – INCREDIBLE. Again, I’m not even going to try to summarise these novels. They are impossible to stop reading once you start. Exotic, erotic, scandalous, beautiful stuff.
Seth, A Suitable Boy – I have read this million-page novel about 10 times. It’s like going home. And the love story at the centre still manages to get me even though I obviously know exactly how it ends.
Wodehouse, Summer Moonshine – A musical comedy in book form, about an ugly house, the beautiful girl who lives there, and the guy who falls in love with her. Hilarity ensues. I love Wodehouse’s language and his beautifully absurd plots, but this book is special. For one thing, it contains a surprising level of unWodehousian bitterness, cynicism and angst, despite it containing the usual Wodehouse humour and light in spades. Gah. Love. *digs up her old copy*
Austen, Persuasion. Angst central. Awesome.
apologies for the hugely long post!
er… sorry for the messed up formatting!!!
I think I broke something on the site.
There are sooooo many, but here are a few:
Lori G. Armstrong – Julie Collins PI books – awesome.
Patricia Briggs – Cry Wolf
Shiloh Walker – Through the Veil
Ann Aguirre – Grimspace – ahhh what a book.
Any Julia Quinn book
Julie Garwood – The Secret – older book – I have read it many, many times.
front14: as opposed to my back14
I’ll second or third the SQUEEE over Matthew Haldeman-Time fiction. LOVE his stuff.
Not strictly a romance, but couldn’t put it down. How to Talk to a Widower by Jonathan Tropper. It was a love story, not so much a romance.
Then a mystery with a never-can-be-together set of lovers, Bitch Creek by William G. Tapply. Again, never would have thought I’d enjoy it, but couldn’t put it down. Hoping he is going to make it a series.
Nora Ephron’s I Feel Bad About My Neck, oh, so fun.
Rachel Gibson is also a not-so-guilty pleasure.
Oh, yeah, I was replying just so I could mention the Pink Carnation series by Willig, but those other pesky books jumped in front.
Phenomenal series, well written, researched and just plain fun.
Submit word book69. Y’all can come up with better stuff than I. Discuss.
The goal is no paper cuts!!
I’m blithely rereading Lynn Flewelling’s Nightrunner series right now. Naive young forest lad Alec becomes apprentice, friend and *cough* so much more to the handsome, debonair, and lovable thief/spy Seregil. It’s fantasy, but the magic and such don’t overwhelm the story, which is derring-do and looming war and Alec and Seregil’s evolving relationship. The four books are Luck in the Shadows, Stalking Darkness, and Traitor’s Moon, with the brand-new Shadows Return just out.
And Kushiel’s Mercy will tear out your heart and stomp it flat.
Tracy Grant had a summer reading list on her blog, and recommended Freedom and Necessity by Steven Brust and Emma Bull.
It’s one of those books told entirely through letters and diary entries – ever since reading Daddy Long Legs as a child, I’ve had a real fondness for those books. And this one is beautifully done – set in 1849, it starts with a letter from a man believed dead, to his cousin, informing him that he’s alive. They have to work out what happened, who was trying to kill him, and who they can trust. Mystery, suspense, and the possibility of romance.
That’s been my best recent read.
I also read Susanna Kearsley for the first time – she’s an author I’ve seen lots of reviews for, but somehow didn’t think I would like. And then I found a second-hand copy of ‘The Shadowy Horses’ and really enjoyed it. Very like Mary Stewart somehow.
And Pratchett is just fabulous. He doesn’t really do romance, but the sketched in relationship between Moist and Adora Belle in Going Postal/Making Money is beautiful.
OK…some more in the m/m romance and/or erotica vein:
Interstitial and I Was an Alien Cat Toy by Ann Somerville. The former is a great m/m romance/space opera novella. The latter I was hesitant to read because of the title, but I’m so glad I did because it is brilliant m/m romance and speculative fiction piece.
Master of None: The Eight of Pentacles by Lee Benoit. Excellently written m/m romance novela with mild speculative elements.
And in the short (under 14 pages) category, some really recent, good m/m erotica reads… The Match by Dakota Flint and Checkpoint by Kit Zheng.
And flash fiction…pretty much anything in HeavyGlow ezine and a great piece by Philip Huang called Colin Farrel’s Penis in Velvet Mafia ezine.
Amen to the Pratchett fans! He’s *huge* in Ireland and the UK – don’t know what the feeling is in the States? I love the City Watch books – I completely
<3 Sam Vimes - but Going Postal is a really *excellent* standalone.
My unknown but wonderful book is
Lazy Ways to Make a Living by Abigail Bosanko It’s an romance loosely based on Jane Eyre, set in Edinburgh and full of wonderful pieces of odd information ranging from the origins of sexual slang to jokes in chess notation to the best way to make a snap-proof bead necklace to the difference between being naked and being nude! The heroine is a bit dreamy and foolish but she’s not an idiot – she just academically brilliant without much life smarts so you kind of forgive her for her decisions. And the writing is intelligent and assumes an equal intelligence on the part of the reader, which I found charming.
What a great list! There goes the budget.
Naomi Novak, Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, Rob Thurman, Deanna Raybourne, I have to second and third all of them, hugely.
The book that I loved, however, the one I held up and said “this,” in response to “what was the highlight of your trip to Europe?” was Un Lun Dun by China Mieville. In an alternate London, where the things we throw out end up and live, a girl (and ye gods, finally a girl and not a 10-year old boy) is the only one who can save Un Lun Dun. Not a romance, but there is a little milk carton named Curdle for whom I hold much affection.
And I can’t depart without mentioning Louise Penny’s mystery series set outside Montreal in the small town of Three Pines. I love these characters beyond all reason and one day, like Brigadoon, hope to stumble upon it and maybe they’ll let me be their friend.
Melusineby Sarah Monette. A dark fantasy, the first in a 3-part (so far) series.
Blew me away.
I’m back with more!
The Wives of Bath by Wendy Holden. Pun-tastic, silly, yet surprisingly sweet and heartfelt. And even if it weren’t those things I would still recommend it on the strength of one line alone:
Hee!
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin. I really enjoyed Something Borrowed, which was a story about female friendship first (so convincing it made me wince in recognition a couple of times) and a sweet, convincing and sexy love story second. I didn’t enjoy its sequel Something Blue as much, but it’s worth reading if you’re interested in seeing what happens to the characters (as Something Borrowed ends on a fairly open-ended note).
Hunting Unicorns by Bella Pollen – a romance between an American journalist and an English aristocrat, but with a twist that I won’t spoil for anyone. Suffice to say that there’s a lot of good stuff here about cultural identity, anger management, and family.
And I second Harlequin’s recommendation of Lazy Ways to Make a Living – an absolute delight.
Me too! And I’m another one hooked on Julia Spencer-Fleming thanks to the free ebook giveaway. I’m currently reading and totally digging Larissa Ione’s Pleasure Unbound – though I’m not usually much of a paranormal reader – and other summer favorites include Toni Blake’s Letters to a Secret Lover and Eloisa James’s Duchess by Night.
Love, love, love Robin McKinley and Terry Pratchett! They both have new books coming out this Fall so I am a happy woman! Lynsay Sands has a new one coming out as well. Her books are comfort reads for me.
As to recently read—I just discovered Lois McMaster Bujold this Summer and have glommed my way through them. Each series is wonderful and unique. She is amazing! She has a new one coming out in January so I am looking forward to that one. And maybe a new Miles next year???
I then discovered Sharon Shinn and have been reading my way through her books. Archangel is my favorite so far. Many more still unread which, again, makes me happy.
Yesterday, I finished Ariana Franklin’s “Mistress of the Art of Death” and was blown away by it. Now I have to get my hands on the second book.
Also just finished Margaret Maron’s newest. She is a wonderful, consistent author and I really enjoy her Judge Deborah Knott series.
Suzanne Brockmann’s “Into the Fire” is on my TBR pile.
Add another big squee for Susanna Kearsley! Mariana and The Shadowy Horses are my two favourite novels written by her.
is the 3rd time I’ve tried to submit this—argh!
Love, love, love Terry Pratchett and Robin McKinley. Both have new books coming out this Fall which makes me very happy. Lynsay Sands also has a new one coming out—her books are comfort reads to me. There is also a new Neil Gaiman coming soon.
As to what I’ve read:
…continued (somehow I am having a terrible time posting this.)
As to what I’ve read:
I just finished Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin. Now I need to get my hands on the 2nd book. I also just read Margaret Maron’s newest Death’s Half Acre. I really enjoy this series.
On my TBR pile is Suzanne Brockmann’s Into The Fire and Naomi Novik’s newest Victory of Eagles.
Oops, sorry people. It looks like I accidentally published it twice. Sorry, I seem to be having computer problems today.
A fourth book, Corambis, is due out next March.
Lizzie, don’t despair. For all Pratchett lovers, I have good news – amazingly, they’ve done wonderful jobs with the movie versions of his books so far. HOGFATHER is possibly the best movie adaptation of a book I’ve ever seen. They captured the look and the atmosphere of the book perfectly. THE COLOUR OF MAGIC (a combo of The Colour of Magic and its pseudo-sequel, The Light Fantastic) was also very well done, even though I don’t really care for the Rincewind books
(*blush* Thanks, phadem—I’m truly embarrassed and pleased.)
I was going to pimp Wicked Gentlemen by Ginn Hale—it’s a small, sparely written m/m romance, and the characters are incredibly cool, flawed, wonderful people. Besides, Bellimai Sykes is the best name, like, ever!!!!
And, of course, anything written my McKinley, McKillip or Guy Gavriel Kaye goes on my keeper shelf. Kaye, in particular, blows my mind with ever damned book. (But my favorite is Tigana:-)
Just One of the Guys was actually the last book I read, and I’m so glad that you loved it, too. I’ve enjoyed all Kristan Higgins’ books and can’t wait for the next one.
although it is not of the romance genre, there is romance in “The Little Lady Agency” by Hester Browne. I have been laughing outloud about her and her antics. I am now on the sequel, Little Lady, Big Apple. The scene when Braveheart the dog goes at it…
Have you read the Horatio Hornblower books? I absolutely adore them. Hubby and I have re-read them many times.
I also got the ARC at work (god, I will miss those) and actually loved this book. I wasnt’ sure i would but I have been reccommending it to my customers. I am keeping the damn ARC too and not returning it to my Manager. ha.
I’m with Sandra in recommending Susanna Kearsley’s Marianna and The Shadowy Horses. More Gothic than Romance, but there is a love story in each of her books and they are totally engrossing. I’ve got her latest in my TBR pile.
Recently read two very different books about WWII: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and The Wedding Officer by Anthony Capella. The former is such a poignant, funny, perceptive, brilliant book, one of the best I’ve read in a very long time. Despite the fact that Death is the narrator, it’s also one of the most humane books I’ve read in a long time. The characters grab you and stay with you long after you finish the last page. The latter book, OTOH, is much more a fairy tale, and I think I gained 10 pounds just reading the descriptions of the wonderful cooking.
A funny romance, and one of the few told by a male author from the male POV, is Dan Graziano’s The Commitment. The hero’s girlfriend throws down the gauntlet, and he has to decide whether or not to pick it up. At times he’s smart and focused, at other times clueless as he seeks advice from all and sundry, but all the characters are very real and the book is a treat, a definite Hidden Treasure.
And Gaiman’s American Gods should be on every school reading list just to make sure everyone has read it.