Time for the most terribly wonderful comment thread of the month, when I ask you what you're reading, you tell me about it, and then I buy it. I know that happens for you, too, but it's so interesting to hear about what people are reading and liking, right? It's like the best kind of nosy conversation.
Unfortunately for me, I'm not reading anything at the moment. I'm flying this afternoon so I'll have something to read by then (funny how at a book conference it's really easy to find new and interesting things to read) but right now I got nothing.
What about you? What are you reading? Anything you recommend for travel reading, or waiting in the airport reading, or both?
Hm, I’ll have to look for G. Willow Wilson’s graphic novels – I devoured her novel Alif the Unseen last month and just loved it.
I finished reading The Informationist, and while I liked it, I’m not sure I liked it enough to grab the next book in the series.
Not sure what I’m going to read next. I just bought Jill Mansell’s Don’t Want to Miss a Thing, so probably that.
@ Qualisign – The Pirate’s Secret Baby has been on my wishlist for a long time. From your reaction, I just may have to One-Click. Just started reading Ocean Swept by Lara Hayes this evening, which is also a pirate story. I found it through BookBub.
Today, while tending my garage sale, the most underwhelming garage sale of all time, I finished It Had to be You by Jill Shalvis. I came late to the Lucky Harbor party, reading Once in a Lifetime first and then going back to the beginning to read through the series.
I am also reading All Fired Up by Vivian Arend and Elle Kennedy. Not as enthusiastic about this book as others I’ve read by Elle Kennedy. I may be suffering from contemporary- hero- who- knows-how-to-shoot overload.
I have The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty or Ride With Me by Ruthie Knox up next. Although I think more pirates or smugglers may be calling….
I just finished Charlotte Stein’s BEYOND REPAIR and I loved it to bits. It combines the unlikely movie star fantasy with some pretty harsh realities and had the BEST awkward sex along with truly funny dialogue. Stein never fails to amaze me, but this might be my new favorite of hers.
I also recently finished J Fally’s BONE RIDER which was super awesome and full of action and humor and pretty darn sexy. I’m trying to get the hubs to read it (I think even the male male stuff wouldn’t bother him) but he can’t get past the porny sounding title.
Looking forward to SKIN GAME and SHIELD OF WINTER.
For now it’s back to the dread TBR pile of doom. Choices choices…
I Just re-read Texas Splendor by Lorraine Heath and The Shy Bride by Lucy Monroe. I have Eloisa James up next in the queue, but I kinda feel like I may be romanced out for the next few books I read.
I’m about halfway through the first Gaslight Chronicles book. I had never read real romance novels before I found this site, and I absolutely love it! I’ve been reading voraciously ever since, and my Kindle has gotten a thorough dusting off. As something a bit hotter, I’ve also been reading Mia West’s “Tell Me When” series of short stories. I love how outright and unapologetically fun they are- they are absolutely steeped in sex for a *reason*, uh-huh. For someone who enjoys history and good historical fiction, they’re toothsome little novellas that show me she’s done her research and is clearly passionate about writing history well.
As for the books, I know the second and third ones are as well-liked as the first, and we’ll have to see. But I’m LOVING this book. A spunky but complex heroine with a past, a brooding and mysterious hero that *isn’t a complete ass*, likeable and interesting children that aren’t caricatures, and a definite feminist bite! One character is so toady and slimy that you can’t wait to see him get put in his place, and when it does happen, it’s absolutely delicious.
I also love the inclusion of a real and mature lesbian character, Merrick’s aunt, and the way her sexuality is treated with respect and matter-of-factness rather than being something tossed into a Victorian world for the sake of scandal. She’s tough and straightforward but clearly cares about her nephew very much and has a soft heart when it comes to caring for the children. I think I like her even better than the main female character.
The steampunk aspect is also present but subtle. I don’t feel hit over the head with it or like it’s a gimmick- it’s been successfully integrated into a world that’s an alternate timeline to our own.
There is a love triangle, which I normally hate, but the rest of the story is so good and so interesting that I’m willing to let it go. The tone is similar to the best YA I’ve read rather than being flowery bodice-ripper language. I’m hoping the rest of it lives up to the first half. I’m slightly apprehensive based on what I’ve heard.
@maureen I adore Nancy Mitford. Thank you for reminding me, it’s definitely reread time.
I’ve been on an old Harlequin Presents glom, and it’s not treating me well, but I can’t seem to stop. I wish I had something to recommend, but nothing has really grabbed me.
I’m still loving Suzanne Brockmann’s books best, which makes spacing them out difficult, because I don’t want to OD, and I am dreading running out of them, but everything else is less enticing.
@roserita: Is Masks any good? I really, really enjoyed the Dorina books but I quit the Cassie Palmer novels halfway through out of sheer frustration because I was already squeamish because of the the use of sex as almost a plot device +the fact that some of what she did sexually was partially because she “had to” and her thing with pritkin kind of pushed me over the edge.
I just finished We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. Very good YA thriller with an ending that I didn’t see coming. Also The Highlander’s Haunted Kiss by Joanne Rock—Harlequin Undone novella. It was good though there wasn’t much chance for the paranormal world-building, that said, I’ll read the next books in the series. Making my way slowly through A Breath of Snow and Ashes, also reading Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas and Mindset by Carol Dweck
@Tabs, thanks for the reminder. The latest Kracken King is waiting on my Kindle, yum. I should…. But wait, no, I must finish Duke of Midnight. That teacher’s pet, Shannon, already finished her review, so the queen of procrastination must not give in to book ADD get back to it. Why is it I love talking about books, except when I commit to reviewing a book?
Right now, I am re-reading the last Harry Potter book, but I should be done with it in a couple of hours. I’m not sure what I’m going to read after that—maybe the newest Jill Shalvis book, which I bought in February but still haven’t read or maybe I’ll download the new Julie James book. I started a new job on Monday, so I haven’t had a ton of time for reading—definite downside.
I keep on reading & reviewing books from AAR’s Top 100 list. I’ve just finished awesome For my Lady’s Heart by Kinsale -I’m still shaking in the aftermath of this impressive book. But I think I’m going to make a stop in this AAR Challenge in order to read The Windflower.
Next books in my AAR Challenge would be two re-reads, to write the review: Lisa Kleypas: Secrets of a summer night (2004) and Judith McNaught: Paradise.
I just finished The Psychopath Test on vacation last week. It was so funny and engaging, I had a hard time putting it down. It’s been a long time I’ve enjoyed a nonfiction book so much. I’m currently reading Nalini Singh’s Archangel’s Blade, which I’ll finish today, and Divergent. I’ve enjoyed Archangel’s Blade the most so far in the series. I think I’ll put Divergent on hold and start The Windflower for the bookclub.
I’m currently reading a collection of short stories in A conservation of shadows – beautiful writing and definitely to savour, not gulp
and Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid
and finally even though I shouldn’t have picked it up Not a drop to drink a YA dystopian and this one is a gulper – loving it!
Sarah Mlynowski’s Magic in Manhattan series
Bordertown anthology authors
S. by J. J. Abrams & Doug Dorst
I am slogging my way through the book I promised to review for the Rita reader challenge. I feel awful, because I’m late. I started it on time, but man I am not enjoying this book. But for the promised review and paid for the book, I would have DNF’d it after 50 pages. Slog, slog, slog. And then you had to post that Jill Mansell sale book last week, so of course I had to buy that and read it right away, because it was Jill Mansell, and such a better book. Slog, slog, slog. I’m going to grit my teeth and finish this book.
Unleashed, by C.J. Barry.
I’m enjoying this entire series so much, that it’s almost a shame I have so many other titles on my TBR list and I can’t go back and re-read it right away.
I recently cleared out paperbacks that I own in e-format and during the process discovered a lot of old skool Loveswept Kay Hooper. I’m halfway through her “Once Upon a time” series and have “Men of Mysteries Past” up next!
Right now I’m reading “The Pursuit of Mary Bennet” by Pamela Mingle. It’s one of those Pride and Prejudice continuation books. I’m about 50 pages in and really enjoying it – I always wanted Mary to NOT be a spinster, to learn more about what happened to her. She was the middle child – her older sisters had all her dad’s affection and attention, she got very little, and her younger sisters, all her mother’s affection and attention. She tried so hard to compensate by applying herself to the piano and reading, and all it got her was being mocked. I would love to see her happily married, to someone who appreciates her and can soften her harsher edges and give her the love she’s never gotten from her family.
Snort-laughed at the title “BONE RIDER.” Does anybody *not* think that sounds porny?
I have been re-reading some Star Trek (TOS) novels preparatory to divesting them. That collection used to take up a lot of space. I have got it down to 1.25 shelves.
Have a couple of romances on my wishlist but the Hard Copy Divestiture project has been keeping me off my Kindle lately. Downloaded a couple of titles I read about here, to get me through an upcoming 5-day family-related trip to San Francisco. 🙂
I’ve started A Study in Silks (Emma Jane Holloway) and Out on a Limb (Carolyn Jourdan) on my Kindle, along with Sunshine in hardback. Finished the London Steampunk (Bec McMaster – loved them!) series right before starting these three.
Taking a break and trying to get into the mood for Heart of Obsidian for the RITA Reader Challenge. Need to move fast so I can start with Vasic’s story asap!
@therefore said: Masks was very good. The Venetian setting was excellent, the vampire politics were convoluted as always, and there was a pretty good mystery at the heart of the plot. Most importantly, there was the ever elegant Mircea, newly Changed, a toddler in vampire terms, stubbornly refusing to compromise his honor. Someone tells him that he not only needs to learn to live as a vampire, but in order to not give into despair, he needs to find something to live for. At the end of the book he has found it…Dory.
So, chacal, what are the favored Star Trek original series books that you’re keeping? Mine include Yesterday’s Son and Time for Yesterday both by A.C. Crispin, Uhura’s Song by Janet Kagan, Ishmael by Barbara Hambly, The Kobayashi Maru by Julia Ecklar, and Doctor’s Orders by Diane Duane.
smwurfy, I’m almost finished rereading Patricia Briggs’ Alpha and Omega series. Enjoy your reread of the Mercy Thompson series.
Today, I read and enjoyed Virginia Kantra’s Carolina Home (A Dare Island Novel). I’m now midway through book 2 in the series.
Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover with music by Griffin Peterson. this pairing a story with an actual soundtrack is a genius idea. It sucked me right in and had me laughing out loud. I liked this story and music pairing so much. I don’t even care anymore about the parts that bugged me about the set up. And, I’ve gotta admit, I’ma sucker for a fart joke!
I’m currently reading the Ondine series by Ebony McKenna. I’ve already read the first two books “A Summer of Shambles” and “The Autumn Palace”.
It’s a lighthearted romantic comedy YA with magic. Really fun stuff.