It’s time. We talk about what we’re reading.
We buy all the books everyone else is reading.
It’s the most wonderful thread each month! You ready? Let’s do this!
Sarah: I’m reading all the Mary Balogh Regency re-releases. One after the other. A Certain Magic ( A | BN | K | AB ) was wonderful. I may have to read it again.
I’m also reading Rebekah Weatherspoon’s vampires lesbian sorority book, Better Off Red ( A | BN | K | AB ). I thought I had the book on a 9-hour flight but no, it was just the sample and I was piiiiiisssssed at myself.
Redheadedgirl: Noooooooooooo
I am reading Shiny Broken Pieces, the sequel to Tiny Pretty Things. Pretty Little Liars meets Center Stage. It’s so good.
I am also reading The End of The Perfect 10 ( A | BN | K | G | AB ), about the evolution of gymnastics since Nadia hit the first perfect 10 in 1976 and how the new, open-ended scoring system has impacted things, which is GREAT reading in the run up to Rio.
Elyse: I’m reading Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo ( A | BN | K | G | AB ), a fantasy series set in a country similar to Russia. I’m also reading the thriller All the Missing Girls ( A | BN | K | G | AB )
Amanda: I’m reading Love on My Mind by Tracey Livesay. So much competence porn. Seriously, everyone is so smart and capable.
Then getting back to Offensive Behavior by Ainslie Paton ( A ). I discovered her book on BookThingo (it’s described as “near-Olympian turned pole dancer meets laid-off drunkard virgin tech tycoon”) after Paton did a guest post on misogyny as a plot device.
Carrie: Arabella of Mars by David D. Levine! ( A | BN | K | G | AB )
So, what are you reading this month? Tell us what books you’ve loved. Which ones were meh?
By request, since we can’t link to every book you mention in the comments, here are bookstore links that help support the site with your purchases. If you use them, that’s so great of you, and if you’d prefer not to, that’s cool too. Thank you so much for hanging out with us, and hopefully you found something good to read!
I’ve been in the mood for short comfort reads this month, so dug out my box of favourite keeper Harlequins. Several of Amanda Carpenter’s – aka Thea Harrison: Cry Wolf, The Great Escape, A Damaged Trust. Two incredibly romantic books that I’ve always loved: Judith Duncan’s Hold Back The Dawn and Sandra Canfield’s Cherish the Moment. And one of only two romances that’s ever made me properly cry: Judith Ansell’s A Special Challenge. (The other tear-jerker was The Bronze Horseman, when I was 14 and there weren’t sequels yet, I don’t think, so I didn’t realise Certain Things weren’t final. And Alexander hadn’t yet gone on to annoy the hell out of me in the third book.) But I’ve just had a bit of a Book Depository splurge, so I expect next month will be reading a lot more new stuff.
I have just finished The Dry by Jane Harper, a wonderful mystery set to in a country town in Victoria (Australia).
I have also enjoyed 2 historical romances – The Wicked Duke by Madeline Hunter and A Gift of Guile by Alissa Johnson
I’m in the middle of Serving Pleasure by Alisha Rai and I’m not enjoying the characters as much as I expected to. Glutton for Pleasure had so many of my favorite things that it’s a tough act to follow. I just finished super sweet Starry Night by Debbie Macomber which reminded me that I can read Christmas romances in the summer if I want. And I just started Underground Airlines, not a romance but pretty darn good so far.
I read The Unleashing by Shelly Laurenstein, based on recommendations here, and I enjoyed it a lot. A fast, fun read.
I needed that because I’m working on Tana French’s Secret Place, which I’m sort-of enjoying, but isn’t exactly fast (or fun). I’m interested in the mystery and plan to finish, but Ms. French could have used an editor on this one. I also don’t remember being nearly as ethereal and deep when I was 16.
I’m halfway through Nuts ( Alice Clayton ). I picked it up because I heard it recommended so often and I’ve slowed my usual reading speed to make sure I don’t miss any of the jokes.
I just read Bad Penny by Jocelyn Adler, she’s a hilarious writerand I’m looking forward to seeing what else she writes. It’s free if you have subscribed to kindle unlimited and if not, you can get a 30 day free trial.
I am now starting on Pegasus by Robin McKinley.
I’m reading Furiously Happy (hysterical!) and just finished rereading Ruthless by Anne Stuart after seeing the kindle sale on SBTB the other day. Up next is that Alice Clayton about the cheese because cheese is definitely the key to my heart.
I’m working my way through some comics collections on my TBR pile. Up next is Jessica Jones: Alias Vol. 4 by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos. If you like the Netflix show, you might want to check out the comics too.
I didn’t read as much this month, because the first book I read became a bit of a slog.
The book was called Time Salvager that my husband recommended. While the world building was excellent and enjoyed the chracters, it was science fiction so very technical and it was also a dystopian and I’m picky about those.
The other book I read was Barefoot in the Sand by Roxanne St. Clair. It was a relaxing read that I enjoyed , but also heavy on the melodrama which I’m not the biggest fan of particularly the big mis. However I do want to read the rest the series and basically every Roxanne St. Clair book I can get my hands on.
I just finished the first arc (18 issues) of the comic book RUNAWAYS — so good! And I just picked up STAR TREK: THE CLASSIC EPISODES, a Barnes and Noble hardcover exclusive which has adaptions of the original series by science fiction authors.
You gals are always talking about Good Book Noise. Well, I have Sad Book Noise. It’s the noise you make when there’s a book you really, really want to get your hands on (in my case the conclusion of a beloved series), you finally catch it on sale and you dive right in (even though it’s 800 pages!) and…
It so doesn’t live up to your expectations. You find yourself constantly asking, “What happened? Where’d the magic go?” ~~Sad Book Noise~~
I’m currently in the middle of three books – “The Illegal” (Lawrence Hill), “Daughters of Fire” (Barbara Erskine), and a feminist commentary on the Gospel of Luke (edited by Amy-Jill Levine). I go for variety in my reading, if nothing else!
I’ve recently finished “The Heart Goes Last” by Margaret Atwood (and loved it – my review is up on my blog), and “Overruled” by Emma Chase (I just recently discovered this series – I liked this one, though not quite as much as “Sustained.” I love how she writes family). I’ve accepted that I am going to DNF “Pretty Baby” by Mary Kubica – my e-book library loan expired, and I haven’t felt motivated to renew it to find out how the book ends.
I recently read both The Bride and The Madness of Lord Ian McKenzie (thanks for the sale tips SB!) and enjoyed them both. I like less traditional heroes, so Ian McKenzie was a particular delight to me. Now trying to decide whether to go on with the rest of the McKenzie series. Has anyone else read them?
I also read Fast Conenction by Santino Hassel and Megan Erickson, both new-to-me authors. It’s the second in their Cyberlove series, so of course I had to go back and read the first one as well!
@Lucy, those old Harlequins sounded like great fun. I wish they were available on Kindle!
Oh, back to less traditional heroes, every time I see Shelley Laurenston’s name, I’m reminded of one of my favorites, David Laurenston in Joanna Chamber’s amazing Enlightenment series. Strong writing, moving story, super romantic couple. Would love to read more from her.
I just finished Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsberg. It was on sale recently (usually over 10 in ebook, which is above my price-point for ebooks). It includes excerpts from some of her most famous cases as a lawyer, as well as some of her Supreme Court opinions, so it is kind of wonky, but since I am a policy wonk, I really enjoyed it.
This month I have been reading the Captain Lacey mysteries by Ashley Gardner (aka Jennifer Ashley). I had bought some on sale, because I like Ashley’s other historical series, but decided that I should try to clear out the TBR folder on my kindle. They are really quite good and I recommend them to anyone who likes historical mysteries. Price-wise, they are quite reasonable and some are packaged together (1 – 3) (4 – 6) (7 -9), so if you like the series, you can buy a bundle and get an even better deal. @SarahH — I have read and recommend Ashley’s McKenzie series and also her paranormals.
I still have a Scribd membership and listened to the first book in the Hunger Games trilogy this month (it is a Scribd Select audio book for July, so does not require use of a credit). I liked it more than I expected to and will probably listen to the remaining two books in the series. Next for me on Scribd, is the Queen of the Tearling, which is another Scribd Select for July (again, no credit required). It is not my usual reading, but it has gotten great reviews and if I don’t like it, I won’t feel guilty about not finishing it.
I just finished “Amy Snow” (by Tracy Rees) and “The Paper Swan” (by Leylah Attar). I liked Amy Snow for the most part – it was an interesting story, and I’d probably give it a solid B. However, the “mystery” that Amy Snow was trying to solve was obvious to the reader rather early in the story (well before it occurred to Amy) – not sure if that was a feature or a bug. This was very much a Cinderella story (for both good and bad). The Paper Swan was unsettling, to say the least. Even though my eyebrows were approaching my hairline for most of the book, it was a page-turner. Again, the identity of the “villain” was obvious to the reader almost from the get-go. I have absolutely no idea how to process the relationship between the couple in this story – I won’t say any more to avoid spoilers. Finally, I’m reading “Signs of Attraction” (by Laura Brown). This is a New Adult romance between a hearing-impaired heroine and a deaf hero. Reed, the deaf hero, is dreamy – I love how he is written. As someone who is hearing-impaired, I’m finding the author’s descriptions of many aspects of the Deaf community to be spot-on. In fact, it is so spot-on that I’m struggling to get past the 25% mark. As a hearing-impaired student in the 80s, I was educated in the model that stressed lip-reading and speech – no sign language allowed. Growing up, I was an outsider to Deaf students because I couldn’t sign. I was an outsider to hearing students because I couldn’t hear very well. Thus, I was left in limbo-land, and this book has brought out all those feelings again. I really should be over it by now.
I’ve been going through Mary Balogh’s backlist as well, and enjoying them all. Heyer also, utterly reliable comfort reading. Still sticking with Trollope, there are not words for how much I appreciate him. Thank god Wodehouse was so prolific, although it can get a little samey when you spend a couple months not branching out.
I should maybe get back to trying new things. Pretty sure I won’t, tho.
I just finished The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller and it hit me in the feels in a very Fangirl and Into the Wild Nerd Yonder kind of way. I loved it. I also recently found out that the beloved Louise Rennison passed this year (how I didn’t know sooner I don’t understand), and plan on working through her Tallulah Casey books. So I’ve just cracked Withering Tights
It’s been hot and humid, and I have no AC, so my reading has slumped off again.
Currently, I’m listening to Deadline, by Mira Grant because I picked up Rise.
I’m also reading Gardens of the Moon, by Steven Erikson, which is the first book in a, completed, ten book epic fantasy series.
I’ve also read:
Four Nights with the Duke, by Eloisa James, which I liked, but didn’t love.
Farthing, by Jo Walton which someone on Twitter recommended after Brexit. (Country house murder mystery, meets AU, with political commentary) I liked it quite a bit.
I also finished a couple of books I’d started last post. Furiously Happy was a delight, If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler was a disappointment.
I just discovered the mysteries by Charles Todd, so I’m hitting my local library. I’m also trying to finish my reading before Hugo voting closes at the end of the month – I’m down to The Divine, Slow Bullets, Seveneves, and The Aeronaut’s Windlass, which not coincidentally are the works I’m least excited about. On the romance side, I have a trio of Susan Mallery novels and a pair by Veronica Scott.
I recently read Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld, which is a modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice and it is BRILLIANT! I’m currently listening to the audio of Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie. I don’t know why I never read this back when I first discovered chick lit, but I’m enjoying it so much right now!
Shadow and Bone is so good! I loved that trilogy.
I read The Unleashing earlier this week and finished The Undoing yesterday after listening to the episode with Shelly Laurenston. I am now obsessed with the Crows! Today I plan on starting Before The Fall. I was holding off until I got back from vacation, as everyone gives the strict warning not to read it while on a plane.
@ Jenny, I am reading Signs of Attraction right now, too, and I wanted to respond — just sending you empathy. I would imagine that experience is a life long challenge, halving a foot in two worlds and not feeling a sense of linguistic home.
My mom just passed and I’ve been working my way through the October daye series and all the penny reid books. It seems to be helping. Even the one where the heroine who reads romances instead of dating heads home because her mom is dying from cancer.
If you like Shadow and Bone, read Six of Crows, the first book in her new series. She’s progressed as a writer, and the story is a lot of fun. It gets described a lot as having an Ocean’s Eleven vibe.
Since I always love a good mystery or thriller when I’m traveling, I decided that the time had come for me to pop my Nora Roberts cherry with “The Obsession.” It was such yummy thriller-y fun that I went on a straight up binge. I’d say “The Obsession” and “Tribute” are my favs thus far, but all the ones I’ve tried have been good. “Blue Smoke” had great family dynamics (something that hooked me in “The Obsession”), “The Search” stoked the fires of me contemplating getting my first dog, and “The Collector” had so much amazing real estate and antique pr0n. I’m glad I finally lost my Nor-inity and that it was as magical and perfect as Romancelandia has always led me to believe.
I also read “Earls Just Want to Have Fun,” but I’ve already discussed how that went…
I read and really enjoyed America’s First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie (historical fiction about Patsy Jefferson). Also fell down the Maiden Lane series by Elizabeth Hoyt. Talk about addictive! Also loved Tessa Dare’s Wanton Dairymaid series.
End of June I finally read Nalini Singh’s “Slave to Sensation” and see what why Psy Changeling series gets ALL the love. I’m fascinated with the almost serial nature of the books, since the second book which I’m reading now includes the first couple pretty heavily.
The other trend seems to planes, trains, and ocean liners. I finished Juliana Gray’s “Duke of Olympia Meets his Match” and then Joanna Shupe’s “Tycoon” with a banker on a train. I met Juliana Gray in her Beatriz Williams alter ego last night and bought her 1920s Der Rosenkavalier book “A Certain Age”. The reasons she liked ocean liners seemed to mirror mine with the “bottle episode” effect where you’re in a closed environment. I have started Shupe’s “Magnate” but I’m struggling with the hero a bit.
I also read the first in Geneva Lee’s GILT series “By Invitation Only” – it’s very Gossip Girls by way of Las Vegas. The second one comes out in two days. Very quick read.
I’m almost done with my Psy Changeling series re-read. After I finished Allegiance of Honor I dove in from the beginning. Right now I’m on Shield of Winter which has never been my favorite, but I’m looking forward to the last two books. The over arching plot of the series holds up really well and reading the books back to back is awesome – I originally read them as they were published and I think I missed a lot of the details (or just couldn’t remember as much!).
So, this month . . . Highlights were two books I checked out from the library’s ebook collection on a total whim. First was A Murder in Time by Julie McElwain, about an FBI serial killer specialist who (somehow) goes back in time to the Regency period and falls into the middle of a murder investigation. It was a really fun thought experiment in my opinion, and of course there was a handsome nobleman. I really enjoyed the heroine’s efforts to figure out her place in the household – kitchen helper, ladies maid, companion, they didn’t know what to make of her. Second was For Real by Alexis Hall which got two A grades from guest reviewers this week and which I would also give an A. Really, really good.
I am reading The Lost City of Z, nonfiction about Amazon exploration, whenever I need an actual paper book like on the beach. Enjoying it.
Really excited to read Rachel Caine’s new book, Paper and Fire.
I’m so sorry Emily. May her memory be a blessing.
Both books in the Cyberlove series by Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell after a Twitter recommendation for the second one, Fast Connection. I preferred that to the first one but they’re both really good!
Uprooted by Naomi Novik is exceptionally good and I’m busily recommending it to everyone.
For those of you who haven’t tried Jenny Colgan yet (don’t know how well known she is outside the UK), her new book The Little Shop of Happy Ever After is so, so good. It’s got a slightly cringeworthy title but don’t let that put you off – it also has a mobile bookshop, sexy grumpy Scottish farmers and it’s really funny. Plus it’s only 99p on Amazon at the mo. Bargain!
I’ve decided on a new strategy to deal with my mounting TBR list. I’m finding the authors I have multiple books from sitting on my kindle (or bookshelf) and read every book I have by that author before moving on to the next with the only exceptions being library books, books I’ve won, and the few books I buy at full price the day they come out (so I don’t get mad when they go on sale months later and I still have it sitting on my kindle to be read).
The first author I glommed was Emma Barry. I had the three books she wrote with Genevieve Turner in the Fly Me to the Moon series, Private Politics, the second in her The Easy Part series, and Brave Heart a historical novella I discovered I had in an anthology when I searched for her books on my kindle. I really loved the first two books in the Fly Me to the Moon series; both had great characters and sweet love stories. The third book, Earth Bound, probably had my favorite heroine (the only one who actually worked for the space program) and my favorite (grumpy) hero but the romance fell short for me. There’s not much courtship which makes sense in the context of the book, but I think that’s why I never quite connected to it. Brave Heart is a second-chance love story with older protagonists (I think she’s 35 and he’s almost 40, in that range at least) set during the Civil War. The couple was engaged but the heroine called it off because the hero’s lack of actions on his desires and convictions bothered her. They meet again a few years later at a dance and the romance goes pretty rapidly from there. The hero goes off to fight so part of the story is told in letters.
Then I had Allegiance of Honor by Nalini Singh from the library so I decided to read the one book I had from her on my kindle, Rock Hard as well. Allegiance of Honor was an interesting read, but it’s more of a transition book so it’s a lot of catching up with where previous characters are in their lives and little progression to the story. I’m interested to see where the next book takes us. Rock Hard was the last of the Rock Kiss series I needed to read before the last book of the series comes out. I wasn’t as excited about this one since it didn’t actually feature any members of the band. It features the best friend of the heroine of the first book and an ex-rugby player CEO hero. I’m not a fan of CEO/secretary books typically but this one worked for me. Sigh did a good job separating the romance from the job. The heroine had an abusive relationship that has had major repercussions in her everyday life and the hero does an amazing job of recognizing that and giving her what she needs to be comfortable in the relationship. I loved how Singh pulled off an Alpha hero that was so sensitive to the heroine’e needs.
I’m in the middle of reading my Emma Chase books, but I have about five library books that I’ll need to read in-between. So far I’ve read Overruled, my least favorite of the Legal Briefs series but still solid and Tangled, which I enjoyed, but I found the hero a little too arrogant at times. I have Twisted from the library and then I own the rest of the Tangled series to read when my library books are finished.
From the library I read I Wish You Were mine by Lauren Layne and A Common Scandal by Amanda Weaver. Layne’s Stiletto/Oxford series is usually an auto-buy for me, but I held off on this one since I didn’t like the idea of the hero being the heroine’s ex-brother-in-law. I really loved Layne’s handling of that issue and, as always, her characters and dialogue were great. I also enjoyed the Weaver book which features a couple who were friends as kids then meet again as adults. They’re attracted to each other, but the hero wants to marry to help his business and the heroine wants to please her sick mother by marrying a title.
Right now I’m reading Veiled Magic by Deborah Blake, a library book, and I’m liking it so far. It has a cop/witch heroine who talks to the dead to get evidence about crime scenes. The hero is a half-dragon art forger. The story involves a cursed painting that both the supernatural governing body and a paranormal hating organization want to get ahold of because it could lead to the end of the paranormal races.
I have Blake’s second Baba Yaga book sitting on my kindle, so I’ll read that next. Then on to Twisted, then I plan on putting Emma Chase books on hold to read Sherry Thomas’s last two Elemental Trilogy books. I read the first a while back and I’ll probably have to scan it to remember what happens, I got the second book for Christmas, and I just got the third book from my e-library. I’ll probably go back and forth between Thomas’s other books I have sitting on my kindle and my books by Chase with Daughters of the Bride by Susan Mallery thrown in.
It was a slow month. The books were good, but they were also long (I like big books, and alas, I cannot tell a lie).
I just (as in about an hour ago) finished My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows. It basically takes the story of The Nine Days Queen, adds shapeshifters, keeps some of the court intrigue, and finds a happier ending for all of the characters. It was written as a comedy (I have to wonder how that pitch meeting to their agent went…”You want to write a comedy about Lady Jane Grey? That doesn’t compute.”), and was quite enjoyable.
Of the other items read over the month, I finished The Fireman (so good), Stiletto by Daniel O’Malley (me love long time), Team Rodent by Carl HIaasen (the book club pick for this month, and I didn’t really enjoy it, but it was only 83 pages and it was over quickly), Grunt by Mary Roach (fascinating, and also I’m now a little ashamed that I never considered the plight of soldiers that had the IED blow off, well, their junk, but man, it is amazing what we can rebuild these days), and Saga Vol.6 by Brian K. Vaughn (predictably, it was excellent). I’m also listening to An Ember In the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir so that it will be fresh in the brainparts when A Torch Against the Night shows up on my Kindle on August 30.
It was only a few minutes ago that I finished off My Lady Jane, so I haven’t picked up a new book yet. I tend to have a TBR pile that qualifies as either insane or an embarrassment of riches, depending on who you ask. I’m leaning toward Heroine Complex by Sarah Kuhn.
@Emily: I’m sorry. It’s a terrible time.
Emily, my sympathies on the death of your mother. I hope that memories of happier times will bring you comfort.
SarahH, I’ve read all of the Mackenzie books. My favorite of the series remains The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, but I enjoyed them all.
Some recent reads all of which I enjoyed.
— Sarina Bowen’s Bittersweet
— a re-read of a favorite historical romance novella: The Governess Affair (The Brothers Sinister) by Courtney Milan
— a re-read of Mary Balogh’s historical romance The Secret Mistress. I liked it better this time than when I had read it initially; however, it is not among my favorites of her books.
— a re-read of Ishmael (Star Trek: The Original Series) by Barbara Hambly
— The Captain’s Daughter (Star Trek: The Original Series) by Peter David
— I read a very short work that has been highly praised. It was an easy read and the Australian setting was of interest; that said, it did not speak to me, and I’m bemused at all the praise it has garnered. Springtime: A Ghost Story by Michelle de Kretser
— I re-read A Solitary Man by Shira Anthony and Aisling Mancy which is a male/male romance. I’d caution prospective readers that this book deals with the trafficking of children for sexual exploitation.
— Mary Balogh’s historical romance Longing
— a re-read of Patricia Briggs’ Blood Bound
— the contemporary romance Fly With Me (A Wild Aces Romance) by Chanel Cleeton which had me crying at one point.
— several novels and novellas in the male/male romance Glasgow Lads series: Play It Safe, Playing to Win, Play On, and Playing for Keeps.
— Julianna Keyes Time Served
— Annabeth Albert’s Status Update
— Strong Signal by Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell
— a re-read of Sarina Bowen’s Blonde Date: An Ivy Years Novella (The Ivy Years Book 0)
— the contemporary romance Charged: A Saints of Denver Novel by Jay Crownover
— re-read The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata
— the contemporary male/male romance Big Love by Rick R. Reed. In addition to the romance between the two adult male leads, it also told the story of a teen gay male who was being bullied.
— Earth Bound by Emma Barry and Genevieve Turner. Note: You can get a feel for the authors’ writing by reading their currently free novella ~ A Midnight Clear (A Fly Me to the Moon Holiday Novella)
— the contemporary romance The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan
— Lord Sidley’s Last Season by Sherry Lynn Ferguson; it was a pleasant regency romance
I too have all the Mackenzie books and enjoyed them all; however Lord Ian is still my favorite. I like everything Jennifer Ashley writes, including her paranormal series. I like the way she’s set up her shifter society.
Just finished Steadfast by Sarina Bowen, the second in her True North series, and enjoyed it very much. The first book, Bittersweet is still my favorite though; it has a down-on-her-luck chef heroine and a grumpy apple farmer hero. Who knew there were so many breeds of apples? 🙂
Before that I reread a couple of Dick Francis mysteries: The Edge and 10 Lb Penalty. The latter is SO good!
And I finally bought Stiletto by Daniel O’Malley. I liked it, but I loved The Rook.
I’m now reading Among the Wicked by Linda Castillo. This is a great mystery series I’m hooked on. In this book Kate Burkholder goes undercover in another Amish community to try to catch a murderer. These books are so atmospheric and just plain good.
After I finish that, I’m planning to reread Julie James’ Suddenly One Summer and Lisa Kleypas’ Where Dreams Begin.
I devoured a couple of fantastic contemporaries recently. One was the first in Sarina Bowen’s TRUE NORTH series: BITTERSWEET is funny and steamy and I loved the secondary characters just as much as the main couple. (The second book, STEADFAST, wasn’t as fun a read. Heavy backstory angst and current misery, but it still kept me interested to see what was going to happen.)
The second contemporary was Alice Clayton’s CREAM OF THE CROP. No surprise to anyone who was a fan of NUTS, but the heroine was sassy and confident, the hero was HAWT, and both characters were really good at their jobs so: competence porn!
I also read the third installment in Charlaine Harris’ Midnight, TX series- NIGHTSHIFT. This series is basically a cozy mystery, but with heavy paranormal elements. The ensemble cast is fascinating, and seeing how each of the characters grow over time is enjoyable. There was a little bit of WTFery at the end, but sometimes you need to throw in a little bit of that to stir things up once in a while. 😉
Lisa Kleypas’ MARRYING WINTERBOURNE, along with WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED by Kristin Rae (who writers really fabulous YA romance) is waiting for me at the library so that’s what’s next.
@Emily, my condolences for your loss.
I’ve been on a romantic suspense kick for the last little while. There were a few misses, but Nico Rosso’s Countdown to Zero Hour was my favourite of the bunch. The characterization of the heroine through me off at first because she was more worried about her morals than her personal safety when the action kicked in, which didn’t ring true to me. However, that blip aside, the balance of action and romance was excellent. I was genuinely worried about the main characters’ safety right until the end.
I just finished Kate Meader’s One Week to Score. I’m a huge fan of this author and although it wasn’t my favourite of the trilogy, it did deliver on the sexual tension and funny one-liners that I’ve come to expect from her. I’d recommend it for anyone who loves the best friend’s little sister trope, which I’m a sucker for.
Megan Crane’s Edge of Control also had the same trope, although in a Viking Dystopian setting instead of contemporary. I enjoyed the characters in this one more than the previous two books in this series. My only nitpick is that I wanted the big emotional moment to come earlier in the story, but I think that’s just a testament to how invested I was in the characters. I find these books to be crack-tastic, but I’d recommend reading a bunch of reviews before jumping in. I’m not sure I would’ve liked the first book as much as I did if I didn’t know what I was getting into.
I found a copy of Sunset in Central Park by Sarah Morgan at the used bookstore. Doesn’t release until August 30th. Why do reviewers do that, dump the books early? Yay for me, I guess. So far, so good.Frankie’s mother sleeps around with younger men so Frankie doesn’t believe in love. But there’s her best friend’s brother who’s always cared about her. And I’m re-reading A Duke of her Own because I always liked Villiers.