Uh oh, it’s Whatcha Reading time! This is the post where we talk about what we’ve been reading and try desperately not to send our TBR piles into epic proportions. We also get to kvetch a little bit about our reading struggles. Gird your loins, or rather book budget, accordingly!
Sarah: I’m in a new place reading -wise. I’ve read 5 books on vacation and am now reading the same book as Adam, at the same time. I bought him Midnight Riot and now we are both reading it. Plus we have long flights so we will probably have to buy book 2 before we get on the plane.
Amanda: I’m going through an unexpected personal clusterfuck. Usually, at the end of the day, I have just enough time for an hour of cross stitching & crying (sounds like a new YouTube channel I should start). I’m torn between wanting to read something fluffy or something that’ll give me an outlet for my anger. But, I am so pleased to see that Book of the Month club (I’m a member) had Final Girls as one of this month’s selections. I’ve been anticipating it for months and I mentioned it on July’s Hide Your Wallet.
Redheadedgirl: I just finished Simona Ahrnstedt’s Falling (I’m so annoyed with the English titles of her books, a straight translation of the Swedish titles would have been fine!) and loved it and now desperately need the next one.
I’m sort of flitting around but my life was pretty bonkers for a while up until today, so I’m going to start the book I mentioned in Hide Your Wallet about ballet dancers in Paris, Under the Parisian Sky ( A | BN | K | G | AB ).
ALSO I just got the ARC for The Half-Drowned King by Linnea Hartsuyker ( A | BN | K | G | AB ), which I have been waiting very patiently for for MONTHS. It’s about Viking-era Norway, so you know. Relevant to my interests.
Elyse: I just started The Red by Tiffany Reisz. It’s an erotic novel that ties into art history
Amanda: How is it so far? Or too early to tell, Elyse?
Elyse: Super good but not for all readers. Reisz pushes the envelope
Redheadedgirl: Oh good, I was meaning to grab that one, too.
Sarah: I finished the first Aaronovich and started the second, Moon Over Soho ( A | BN | K | G | AB ). In this one, I’m a little unimpressed with Peter’s lack of self awareness and am a little frustrated with the portrayal of some of the women in the series. But I’m still charmed I’m going to keep going through this one, for sure.
But I am still going.
Amanda: Well that’s a bit of a bummer.
Sarah: It’s still incredibly engaging and very funny. I do want to smack Peter in this one though.
Carrie: I just finished Dating You/Hating You by Christina Lauren ( A | BN | K | AB ) and I am about to start Lethal Lies by Rebecca Zanetti ( A | BN | K | G | AB ).
What have you been reading this month? Anything good? We sure hope so! But, if not, let us know your frustrations in the comments.
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, thank you so much, and if you’d prefer not to, no worries. Thanks for being a part of SBTB and hopefully, you’ve found some great books to read!
@Louise: Oh, I don’t think Lady Audley’s Secret is cheesy at all. Lucy Audley is a fascinating villain–and really, kind of a hero to me. She talks right back to her society’s definition of womanhood, class, and mental illness. It’s as if you can hear the author arguing with herself in the voices of her moralizing narrator and her villain, and I don’t think she was fully convinced of how to resolve it. It’s the unresolved tensions all through this book, in spite of a rather silly ending, that make it really memorable.
I’ve been concentrating on taking advantage of the free Kindle Unlimited trial Amazon offered me this month. I didn’t find anything amazing, but did have a lot of solidly enjoyable reading experiences. Here’s the highlights:
Buns by Alice Clayton- This was an Overdrive library book that I read before starting my KU kick. I enjoyed it, but now that I’m trying to write details of how I enjoyed it I realize I can’t remember much about it. That may be my brain which is currently stressed out and scattered.
Anything You Can Do and The Foxe and the Hound by R. S. Grey- Both of these were light, really funny, enjoyable, and had great dialogue. I’ve found a new author for when my brain can’t handle anything too heavy.
Co-Wrecker and My Best Friend’s Ex by Meghan Quinn- These were also light books that I enjoyed. Both touch on heavier subjects, but those subjects weren’t really developed. I think had they been both of the books would have been better with richer characters, but I still enjoyed them for what they were.
Taming Eliza Jane and Becoming Miss Becky by Shannon Stacey- A couple of early historicals by Stacey. I struggled with them both and I’m not sure if that was due to my expectations of Stacey books or my historical reading slump. I can’t really point to anything wrong with them.
The Modern Love Series by Piper Rayne- Once again, light and sexy contemporaries without a lot of depth. I enjoyed the third book, The Banker, the most which surprised me because I didn’t really connect with the heroine in the first two books.
I read some other books that weren’t really worth mentioning. Currently I’m reading First Step Forward by Liora Blake. I’m 25% into it and so far it’s been fine. I’ve enjoyed some moments, but it really hasn’t pulled me in which may be due to me being too stressed out right now to fully appreciate reading.
I’ve got some library books lined up to read including After Dark by Jayne Castle, White Hot by Ilona Andrews, and The Black Lyon by Jude Law. I’m kind of in a mood where so much sounds interesting to read and yet nothing’s compelling me to pick it up. I had planned to read Day of the Duchess by Sarah Maclean next, but don’t think I’m in the right mindset for that one yet.
My library got a bunch of K F Charles books recently and I’ve been bingeing. They are m/m historicals and I’m loving them.
I also read Rock Addiction (Nalini Singh) which was in my Kindle library – who knows when I bought it. It was pretty good but I haven’t decided if I’ll spring for the other books in the series. Definitely didn’t have that I MUST READ THEM NOW reaction.
Speaking of Nalini Singh – I’m at the top of the hold list for Silver Silence and cannot wait to read it!
I attended a lovely wedding last weekend, so my reading time has been sparse this month. I did finish Seanan McGuire’s Down Among the Sticks and Bones from the library before I left. It’s a prequel to her Every Heart a Doorway, showing the backstory of the twins.
I started Beatriz Williams’ Cocoa Beach set in 1920s Florida.
Also trying to reread Anne McCaffrey’s Talent books since the first was on sale.
While I’ve been (im)patiently waiting for the release of Wildfire, I read the entire Elder Races series by Thea Harrison. My favorites were Dragon Bound, Oracle Moon and Kinked. I just bought Moonshadow and am excited for the release of Spellbinder on Tuesday.
I am also working my way through Beverly Jenkins’ backlist. Please donate to the GoFundMe page to raise money for the Deadly Sexy movie if you can!
Read and really enjoyed Silver Silence by Nalini Singh because…bears!
Finally, I’ve been trying to get into the Immortals After Dark series after hearing Sarah MacLean rave about it, but I just don’t think this series is for me. I didn’t really like the first two books and No Rest for the Wicked isn’t doing it for me so far. I may have to give up after this book.
This is my favorite recurring post!! I love reading all the summaries/opinions but it’s bad, bad, bad for my TBR list 😀
RE: Peter being dumb, there is a plot explanation but it’s way at the end. I like Moon Over Soho for introducing Sahra Guleed, she’s one of my favorite side characters! I’ve been meaning to check out the graphic novels b/c I saw her on one or more of the covers.
I’m not reading anything right now, mostly because I have no brain space and also because I just want it to be August already so I can read the new KJ Charles; it’s the start of a new series with magic in it again yayayay, she’s so good at weaving in fantasy/horror. Can’t wait!
The Princess In Black series by Shannon Hale, to my five year old. She loves them. I knew Hale’s work from reading Austenland and I must say, these are charming books.
Just finally coming out of my reading constipation, so I have a few books to mention.
I’m currently reading NIGHTS OF STEEL by Nico Rosso. This is the 4th in the Ether Chronicles series. He alternates books in the series with his wife, Zoe Archer. Steampunk western. This one has two bounty hunters, one a woman and the other a black man. Love, love, love it!! Although I’ve truly loved all of them, this may be my favorite yet.
FORGIVE ME by Daniel Palmer. Thriller, very thick (over 400 pages). There are three mysteries, two too many for my taste. Decent, a bit slow a read, but the ending was rather rushed. A dollop of romance. Does contain alcoholic parents, child abuse and exploitation. Too much crammed into one book. I understand from fans of Palmer that this is one of his weaker books. I gave it a 3 out of 5.
MRS. SHERLOCK HOLMES by Brad Ricca. Found this one on my library’s New Books shelving. Non-fiction story of Grace Humistan, the first woman appointed as U.S. District Attorney, also the first female consulting detective with the NYPD. Set in 1914-1920, although Grace’s history is gone into past that date. Flips around a bit, but if you stick with it, the story will overtake you. Grace got a law degree to better deal with her society family’s estate. She found her calling with New York’s newly arrived immigrants who needed a guide to deal with law and crime. She also managed to find a young woman who went missing in her neighborhood after the police decided that the girl had run off with her lover. Grace also saved a woman from death row after she was convicted of murder in what was a self-defense situation. 4.5 out of 5
FIRST IMPRESSIONS by Nora Roberts. I have a huge number of Roberts’ backlist on my ereaders, so I will sometimes cleanse my palate by reading one of her books. Shane Abbott returns to her small town after her grandmother’s death, determined to renovate the family house into a combination museum and antiques shop. Her new neighbor, Vance Banning, appears to be out of work, so she decides to hire him to do the job. Sweet and slow, no crimes or violence or real mysteries beyond Vance’s true status. A lovely book, perfect for a summer read. 4.5 out of 5.
@Liz, I was very so-so on “Rock Addiction,” but I think “Rock Hard” is way better. It’s the only one from that series that I really like, but YMMV
Just finishing up The Bands of Mourning, last book in the second Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. Holy crap, the number of gut punches he hits you with in the last five or so chapters makes me feel like I’m in a championship bout with Mohammed Ali in his prime. This is an awesome series overall and looking forward to where he goes from here.
Also, @Jill Q, have a look at the first trailer for the Wrinkle In Time movie: http://www.tor.com/2017/07/15/a-wrinkle-in-time-teaser-trailer-d23-expo/
This is actually my first post to SBTB! I recently started a full-time data entry job which allows me to listen to podcasts (yay!) and when I asked my Facebook hive “What’s your favorite podcast?”, SBTB was recommended to me by one of my book club buddies. I love it because there are so many recommendations in each episode! I guess I personally define “romance” as consensual kissing (at the very least.) Which happens in thousands of books and movies! So I thought this would be a good first post to weigh in on and say hi at the same time!
I am always reading three books. Currently:
1. Book on my Kindle: Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner. (Really great makeout-at-a-rock-concert-then-have-sex-in-the-car scene.)
2. Book by my Bedside: Meg Cabot’s Princess Diaries series for the first time! I’m on Book 4 (of 20!) and Princess Mia has finally locked lips with her longtime crush who also happens to be the brother of her BFF Lilly.
3. My local YA Book Club: Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova. LGBT+ odyssey adventure during which the main character falls in love with her best friend.
SBTB
SBTB
SBTB
I swear, every time I have to type this abbreviation, my fingers get at least one letter wrong. Practice!
@Emily A
I’m not Kate, but I had to comment on An Old-Fashioned Girl. It’s such a weird hybrid: on one hand it’s got some of the strongest feminist sentiments of any Alcott book, and then on the other hand the massive doses of her trademark Retroactive Social History. (There is probably a technical term. The thing where the author has an idea about the ideal woman or child or family, and instead of saying “Let us strive to make things like this”, she instead projects it back onto a historical past that never actually existed.) I was surprised to learn it was her next girls’ book, immediately after Little Women.
Personally I’ve always been fond of Eight Cousins. Also parts of Jo’s Boys (the last of the Little Women franchise) because the author finally, finally dares to give us a character whose stated ambition is to be “a useful, happy and independent spinster”–and she follows through on it!
Oh, and I’m rereading The Original Hitchhiker Radio Scripts. I guess that counts as fluff.
Well, the party don’t start till I walk in…
Normally I have to pull up the old Goodreads and check the last post to see where I left off, since I normally read a lot of books. This month? Hahahahahahahahaha. Nooooope. I’ve read three, count ’em, three books (ah ah ah) since the last post. Upon finishing (and thoroughly enjoying) The Collapsing Empire, I finished up Let It Shine by Alyssa Cole, which I had been drawing out and only reading about once a week for roughly a month (I do this with novellas, it’s a quirk). Then I started Fool’s Assassin, by Robin Hobb. Now, it has been A LOT of years since I had read The Farseer and Tawny Man trilogies, and I never went for Rain Wilds or Liveship Traders. Not really sure why, they just didn’t cross my radar, I knew they existed, I just didn’t pick them up. Now, I admit, I read a lot less epic fantasy than I used to, but Game of Thrones is getting to ready to wind back up, and rather than reread those, I decided to go for something in a similar vein, so get in here, FitzChivalry. It took me awhile to get into it, for a couple of reasons. One: obviously, it’s been a minute since I had read the Hobb, and occasionally it was hard to remember things. Two: Fool’s Assassin started off SLOW. That’s not a criticism, but where the Farseer and Tawny Man books were fantasies with magical powers and wolf companions and DRAGONS, this…was a family drama. Instead of sneaky assassin Fitz, you got benevolent gentleman farmer Fitz, who deals with a wife that he thinks for awhile is going mad and a daughter that looks for the first almost 9 years of her life like she is going to have special needs (the chapters told her from perspective read somewhat like she could be on the autism spectrum in parts). As you get farther in, well, nothing is as it seems. Molly isn’t mad, Bee is frighteningly intelligent, resourceful, and pragmatic. And Fitz still has his skill set, even if he is reluctant to call upon it. There were a few legitimately heartbreaking scenes. Then it ended on a cliffhanger, and I CANNOT with that. I had Fool’s Quest out of the Overdrive library so fast that I thought I saw smoke coming off of my iPad. Again, started slow, and since the reader knows about the catastrophic event that ended Fool’s Assassin but the characters don’t, you get a distinct sense of building dread. Again, there is something playing with tropes in this book, since Fitz’s chapters tell you how badly he wants to charge into battle, but he can’t, not without preparation, because his skills are there, but they are rusty. Both books definitely loaded the action on the back end, and I am looking forward to some dragon-y goodness in the next one. Fool’s Quest ended on a cliffhanger again (why, Robin Hobb, whyyyyyy?), but I’ve been in 1400 pages straight for some serious heartbreak and I need a little bit of a rest from it. So I have started When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon, which already reads like the geeky, arranged marriage romantic comedy of my dreams.
Welcome, @Lisa W!
@Emily A – I haven’t read AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL yet, but I have downloaded it. I’ve read the Little Women series again and again, as well as A LONG FATAL LOVE CHASE, one of Alcott’s gothic thrillers, which I love. ROSE IN BLOOM is next on my list!
@Vasha – I loved PETER DARLING so much! It was thoughtful and just…romantic. And the worldbuilding, too!
@Crystal – FITZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Some recent reads here ~
— the almost contemporary romance (it’s set in the 90s) How to Love Her (McCullough Mountain Prequel) by Lydia Michaels.
— a couple of books about which we needn’t say more; they were rather disappointing. Heated Mating (Luminet Warrior Series Book 1) and Claiming Her Warriors (Luminet Warrior Series Book 2); both are by Savannah Stuart (aka Katie Reus).
— Ilona Andrews’ White Hot: A Hidden Legacy Novel which I enjoyed.
— the short non-fictional inspirational work Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life … and Maybe the World by Admiral William H. McRaven. It was a quick and enjoyable read.
— The Hard Truth About Sunshine by Sawyer Bennett which I enjoyed and found myself thinking about as I lay awake in the middle of the night. The author made her name writing romances, but this is different from her usual style. I believe this is a book I’ll read again. It’s a book that needs a host of trigger warnings: child abuse, suicide, war, severe injuries, incurable cancer. I’ve probably failed to list a few.
— Alyssa Cole’s historical romance An Extraordinary Union (The Loyal League) which I enjoyed. I haven’t read too many romances featuring women of color, so this was a step in that direction. I started the book a couple of weeks ago and then put it down half read; I’m glad I resumed reading.
— the historical romance The Girl With The Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn which I enjoyed. It’s a book I expect I will be re-reading.
— And It Came to Pass by Laura Stone is a book that I really enjoyed; I’d describe it as a love story. The author was raised in the LDS faith and was a Gospel Doctrine teacher; consequently, her book seemed very accurate in its representation of the Mormon faith. The author also included some disquieting statistics about Mormon LGBT youth as regards suicide and homelessness.
— Come Sundown by Nora Roberts. I enjoyed it as I normally do books by Nora Roberts. (Though admittedly I lost interest in and did not finish her previous book, The Obsession.)
— the graphic novel T-Minus: The Race to the Moon by Jim Ottaviani and Zander Cannon to complete a square on the bingo card for my library’s adult summer reading challenge.
— Jo Goodman’s most recent western historical romance A Touch of Frost which I enjoyed.
— The Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook by Ann Crile Esselstyn and Jane Esselstyn and found a few promising new recipes that I’ve passed along to my husband (the chef de la maison).
— The No-Salt, Lowest-Sodium International Cookbook by Donald A Gazzaniga which was quite different from the above but worth a read.
— The Compass Rose by Gail Dayton is a fantasy of which I’ve seen not infrequent mention; I enjoyed it. Then I read the sequel, The Barbed Rose, and now I want to read the third book but my library doesn’t own it. Drats!
— a work of mainstream fiction which I quite enjoyed ~ Miss You: A Novel by Kate Eberlen
— the young adult novel Things I Should Have Known by Claire LaZebnik which I found to be an enjoyable read.
— and Werecat: The Rearing by Andrew J. Peters which I thought would be a male/male paranormal romance but wasn’t quite. An interesting read; I’ve heard the series improves as it goes.
— Lunch with the Do-Nothings at the Tammy Dinette by Killian B. Brewer. I enjoyed this love story with two male leads.
— A Sky Full of Stars (The Shaughnessy Brothers Book 5) by Samantha Chase. This was a pleasant contemporary romance, but I don’t think it’s a book I’ll be re-reading.
— My Life with Bob: Flawed Heroine Keeps Book of Books, Plot Ensues by Pamela Paul is an enjoyable memoir that had me chuckling and sharing passages with my husband.
— the science fiction romance Dark Planet Warriors by Anna Carven; I enjoyed this but not quite as much as I’d hoped to. I’d happily read more of this series though were the books to fall into my lap.
–the contemporary romance Dating You / Hating You by Christina Lauren. I put this down when I was about a third of the way through the book and almost gave up on it. There was no issue with the book, but I don’t care for stories in which the main characters are competing for something (in this case a job). I did resume reading and ultimately enjoyed the book.
— the male/male science fiction romance Claimings, Tails, and Other Alien Artifacts by Lyn Gala which I quite enjoyed and have since re-read.
— An Unseen Attraction (Sins of the Cities) by KJ Charles ~ I’d describe it as a historical m/m romance with a strong mystery element. It’s set in Victorian times, and the two main leads are a boarding house keeper and a taxidermist. This book is part of a trilogy, and I look forward to reading more.
My favorite post of the month!
The books I finished in the last month are as follows:
Excellent – both of these two books made me feel like I had fallen down a rabbit hole or into Dumbledore’s Pensive and found myself in a different world.
– The Caveman’s Valentine by George Dawes Green – a black homeless schizophrenic man tries to solve the murder of a famous model. The story is told from his point of view so you as the reader have to pick out the facts of the story during his lucid moments from his paranoia. Also he has difficultly getting anyone to believe him because of his mental illness. Warning for torture.
– In the Woods by Tana French – The first in the Dublin Murder Squad series, this novel is the intertwined stories of the murder of a child and a cold case involving the disappearance of two children in the same location years apart. It is told in first person by one of the homicide detectives who warns you that he searches for the truth but also lies. It takes place in the mid 1990’s and the writing is very compelling. Warnings for child abuse, child murder, sexual crimes against both a child and an adult.
Very Good:
– Heated Pursuit by April Hunt: romantic suspense set in Honduras with a former special forces turned private contractor hero and a bounty hunter heroine. The two join forces to hunt an infamously cruel drug lord (I am guessing he was modeled after El Chapo??). Yes, the plot was over the top and yes there was some danger-is-around-the-corner-but-let’s-stop-and-bone-anyway, but it still worked for me. The chemistry between the hero and heroine was electric. I plan to read the second in the series.
-Positively Pippa by Sarah Hegger: This read more to me like women’s fiction than a pure romance as a lot of the story focused on the heroine’s relationship with her grandma, mom, and sister. However, whatever you label it, I thought it was a good story of the sometimes difficult relationships within families with the added bonus of a romance. I plan to read the second in the series.
Good:
– Dukes Prefer Blondes by Loretta Chase – loved the setup and the first half or so of the book. The heroine is so beautiful no one ever gets to know the person inside and the hero is a grumpy barrister. However, the emotional payoff of the two realizing that instead of just liking and being attracted to each other, they actually love each other just wasn’t powerful enough for me.
Meh:
– Rescue Me by Kira Sinclair – hero was too bossy, plot was implausible, but I liked the German Shepard working dog in the story and on the cover.
– Wild for You by Debbi Rawlins – I walked way into the middle of a series on this one. There wasn’t anything particularly bad about this book, there just wasn’t anything especially great either.
The Bad:
– The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke – This is the first in the Hannah Swensen series and I know people just love them and they have been made into TV movies, but I thought it was awful. The main character has a lot of disdain for a lot of the women in her life and comes across as very harsh and judgmental. Also so much evidence was mishandled, tampered with or “lost” that I felt bad for the prosecutor that would need to take the case to court.
I’ve been on a Kindle/Audible binge lately! Chewing through old favorites and hacking my way into my over-tall TBR pile.
Audible books:
1)FLOWERS FROM THE STORM by Laura Kinsale, read by Nicholas Boulton–This was my 4th or 5th time through this amazing book but the FIRST time as an audiobook (My favorite hero EVAR–Jervaux, trapped inside his mind after a stroke and thrown into an insane asylum and then along comes a buttoned-up Quaker Miss to save him). Nicholas Boulton is the bomb. The book is rendered even MORE swoon-worthy by his amazing gravely baritone (if you like Richard Armitage’s way of delivering a line, then prepare yourself to squee over Mr. Boulton. Seriously, run, don’t walk to get the audio version. BOOK GRADE: A, PERFORMANCE: A+
2) A FALLEN LADY by Elizabeth Kingston, read by Nicholas Boulton–Really enjoyed this new-to-me author. Enjoyed the beginning and middle, got a little frustrated with the last “complication” the author threw in; but overall really liked the primary and secondary characters, character development, and writing style. BOOK GRADE: B, PERFORMANCE: A
2) THE WHOLE SPYMASTER SERIES by Joanna Bourne, read by Kirsten Potter. She takes writing, characters, pacing, and plot to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL. I’ve read all the books at least twice, and enjoyed the audible version quite a lot. BOOK SERIES: B+ (Several of the books are “A’s” like Spymaster’s Lady and The Black Hawk), PERFORMANCE: B+
3) PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen, read by Rosamund Pike. You MUST hear this version. I’ve read this book a dozen times and STILL got a fresh new take on it by Ms. Pike’s AMAZING performance. BOOK GRADE: A, PERFORMANCE: A.
4) VENETIA by Georgette Heyer, read by Richard Armitage (squeal!) First time through Venetia–loved the story and enjoyed the performance. BOOK GRADE: B, PERFORMANCE: A
5) MOST OF THE REST OF LAURA KINSALE’S BACKLOG! (Couldn’t get enough Nicholas Boultan in my life). PERFORMANCES: A+ Books: THE SHADOW AND THE STAR: B+ (heroine teeters on the TSTL category a few too many times), SEIZE THE FIRE: B (How can you not love the hero–swoonworthy Sheridan Drake as a good dude with PTSD), PRINCE OF MIDNIGHT: B+ (S.T. Maitland is darn near Jervaux as my favorite hero), MIDSUMMER MOON: B (almost a B- but the hedgehog pulled up the score). LESSONS IN FRENCH: B (Sweet and her “lightest” love story.)
Kindle Reads:
1) A STUDY IN SCARLET WOMEN by Sherry Thomas. I really wanted to LOVE this book as I love all things this book is about (ASD spectrum issues, Sherlock, mystery, woman-as-detective), but alas, I only liked it. The characters were lovely, but I needed to know more about Ingraham. Secondary characters were FABULOUS! Mystery was a little “meh” and the romance level was just one big TEASE. I felt a bit (as the Brits say) “put out.” But I still love Sherry Thomas and will read her next one and hope for advancement in the romance arena. BOOK GRADE: B-
2) DEVIL IN SPRING by Lisa Kleypas. Loved the “meet cute” and the guest appearances by characters from the Kleypas’s “Wallflower” series. Adorable characters and hilarious dialog. Charming. BOOK GRADE: B
3) MARRYING WINTERBOURNE by Lisa Kleypas. I just couldn’t get off the ground with this one. I really wanted to. The couple was introduced in the prior book (Cold-Hearted Rake) and I had high hopes for their story. But they fizzled. There were charming moments. Sweet loves scenes. And Rhys was a very credible hero. Helen? Meh. Pleasant story, but overall, a bit forgettable. BOOK GRADE: C+
4) Just started THE DOOMSDAY BOOK by Connie Willis. As per usual, slogging through the first part to get used to her “tech” is a bit of an uphill climb, but I’ll do it for Ms. Willis. She’s the Bomb. I’ve loved everything else I’ve read by her so I’m sure I will also love this!
5) Impatiently waiting for the August 1 release of BEAUTY LIKE THE NIGHT by Joanna Bourne. *Sigh*
6) Also impatiently waiting for the return of TV’s “Outlander” on STARZ. As the first 3 books are so amazing and on my “desert island” list (along with Kinsale’s Flowers from the Storm) and I think the TV series is BETTER THAN THE BOOKS (Oh my, please don’t tell Diana Gabaldon!!!!!!!!) so I’m waiting with bated breath for The Reunion Scene. Swoon. Thud.
Alright, back to reading!
I’m having some reading slump currently since it’s been exactly a year since I filed for a divorce and exactly a year since my soon-to-be ex-husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer (three days after I filed). (Oh, and it turns out that, in California, at least, you can’t divorce a dead person.) So it has been mostly comfort re-reads.
Re-read Nora Robert’s The Obsession yet again – total competency porn. Re-read Girl of Fire andThorns and starting Crown of Embers (Rae Carson). Re-read Eileen Dreyer’s If Looks Could Kill, an oldie but goodie. Re-read Kate Elliott’s Cold Magic and decided to spend the money for Cold Fire which I have not yet started.
I also read Ten Things We Did by Sarah Mlynowski for the first time – enjoyed it but, as a parent, did have a different perspective than the target audience. I am also reading (on the other e-reader) Rose and Thunder by Lilith Saintcrow and enjoying that a lot, too. I started A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas and could not get into it – may try again later as I have like a number of her other books.
I read Just the Way You Are by Christina Dodd and it was pleasant. Downloaded Winter Tide by Ruthanna Emrys as I loved the teaser and expect I will read that soon.
@Ren “I read the wiki for Game of Thrones…” That is genius!! I’m interested in the story, but in a bullet point way, no desire to read/see all the minutia of the books/show, esp. torture/rape.
I’m all over the place with reading/audio books. I’ve been DNFing so many I’ve stopped putting them on my DNF bookself; I just delete them from my list. But I had some really good reads/listens this month.
Audio books that made my hell-ish commute almost fun:
Torch Against the Night by Tahir Sabaa – second in the series which I started the previous month. Also, I could listen to Steve West read anything.
When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloise James – delightful!
Visions of Heat (Psy-Changeling #2) by Nalini Singh – when I read the first in this series, Slave to Sensation a couple of years ago, I hated it. Like, hate. Then I had to re-read it for book club last month and I liked it. I have no idea what changed! But I liked it so much I listened to this one. And now I feel compelled to listen to #3… Ugh. there are like, 85 books in the series. I’m not putting them on my tbr. that would be too depressing.
Almost finished: Sex with Shakespeare by Jillian Keenan – raises the question, how do schools get away with teaching Shakespeare to underage kids?
Book books that made me SQUEE
White Hot by Ilona Andrews – danced around in circles flailing my arms and giggling
For Real by Alexis Hall – All the feels. All of them
Breeder by Cara Bristol – Kind of dark. But kind of goofy. I was all in.
Just started: Wanted and Wired by Vivien Jackson – the hero is the strong silent type and the heroine is a flirty assassin. Yes please.
I’m trying to finish up my current art project so I can give ‘A Kingdom of Dreams’ the attention it deserves.
I started A Kiss at Midwinter by Courtney Milan as my “Christmas in July” read yesterday. My DVR is busily recording some of my favorite Hallmark holiday movies from last year. Last week, I read Run to Ground by Katie Ruggle, a new-to-me author. Romantic suspense stories with the hero or heroine being part of a K-9 team have become my go-to “take a break from the 19th century” books. I am still making my way through Elizabeth Hoyt’s Maiden Lane series and next up is Sweetest Scoundrel. I just received Alex and Eliza by Melissa de la Cruz from the library after a long wait, so that will be my next read before Eva and Asa’s story.
I also read the review of The Wicked Cousin and went back and re read the first three in the series and then TWC. Loved them. Just ordered The Black Madonna by Stella Riley. On Kindle Unlimited I found a Dective Lavender series by Karen Charlton. I am on the second book.
Picked up Miss Buncle’s Book after the sale post. Totally delightful. Quick, light, deftly humorous. Have Miss Buncle’s Marriage on reserve.
Bit of a fantasy binge while on my Outlander trip: Written in Red by Anne Bishop. WONDERFUL!! A breath of fresh air and originality for someone who reads A LOT of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Followed up by Master of Crows from Grace Draven. I had to force myself to put it down this morning so I could spend one more morning savoring it tomorrow.
Thing learned on Outlander trip: DO NOT refer to it as a romance (“It’s a freakin time travel romance” muttered under breathe every time bff or other attendee described it to the uninitiated as everything but). Also Cesar Domboy, who will be playing grown up Fergus this season, is just about the sweetest, most animated boy I have ever met. Show watchers, you will be delighted.
-I read Touch and Geaux by Abigail Roux, the 7th book in the Cut and Run series. This book gave me a serious book hangover and made me want to back to New Orleans. I love this series but it took the 4th book to really get into it. Now I have to pace myself.
-I read Lauren Blakely’s Knocked up Plan. Really like Lauren Blakely’s books and her books are short so I have keep myself from Binge reading everything in one sitting.
-Sleepless in Manhattan by Sarah Morgan. Didn’t really care for this book. Something with the characters I couldn’t really connect with. Don’t if I should continue on even though I have the other books in the series because they were on sale or free.
-Dear Aaron by Mariana Zapata was suggested in an author’s group on Facebook and they all love Zapata. Apparently Dear Aaron wasn’t as good as a couple of others and my only thought was How? I really liked this book and can’t wait to read more by her.
-Another new to me author Leisa Rayven with Mister Romance and I really liked this book. I know I have had other books by her on my TBR pile that need to be bumped up to the top.
-This one makes me sad. I read Lickety Split by Damon Suede and I really did not like it. However the only other book I’ve read by him is Hot Head and I am probably being very unfair by comparing it to that one.
-Raid by Kristen Ashley. It was ok. Unlike her other books it was short. It was just ok. Nothing really stood out.
-Current read is Black Tie Optional by Ann Marie Walker. I believe this was mentioned during the live podcast at RT. So far it’s cute.
Three books I loved recently:
BLAME IT ON THE DUKE by Lenora Bell. I loved the WTFery of the first in the series, HOW THE DUKE WAS WON (Willy Wonka type plot and martial arts practicing helping) but found the sequel forgettable (IF I ONLY HAD A DUKE). This, however, combined elements of two of my all time favorite romances (A WEEK TO BE WICKED by Tessa Dare where the heroine makes scholarly breakthroughs through correspondence under a male name, and THE HEIRESS EFFECT by Courtney Milan where the heroine for reasons must chase away gentlemen with outrageous behavior) and added the sexy-and-fun element of having the heroine’s scholarly project also provide sex ed (she’s translating parts of the Kama Sutra). This book was so witty and hot and it made me very happy.
And I discovered a new author courtesy of the SBTB comments section–hi @Ren and I’m totally going to copy you by reading the GoT wiki, though I don’t think I’ll finish before tonight’s SEASON 7 PREMIERE WHOO. I loved WHAT COMES AFTER DESSERT and TEN THOUSAND HOURS by Ren Benton. They were both refreshing examples of contemporaries, where there are thorny life problems facing the flawed but likeable heroes and heroines and there isn’t a magical solution but they find their way to happiness. Not fluffy but also not manufactured darkness/angst. I’m just sad there are only two books of hers for me to read right now 🙂
Also for anyone doing Ripped Bodice Bingo, both Ren Benton books qualify for baking/sweets–WHAT COMES AFTER DESSERT has a baker heroine and TEN THOUSAND HOURS has pizza grilled cheese (yes it isn’t baking or sweet I guess but omg that is the part of the book that will stick with me forever)(also read this book if only to learn about pizza grilled cheese). And I used BLAME IT ON THE DUKE for nerd/geek elements.
Update: I’ve just read Jean Webster’s Daddy-Long-Legs, prompted by the recent review here on site, and I love it! Such a delightful heroine and a wonderful book. Judy is quite an inspiration. 🙂
So far, July has been an interesting month. I tried to read the new Vanessa Kelly, but just couldn’t get into it. The writing was fine, but I felt like she shot herself in the foot by jumping from the country to London because it felt like a completely different book.
After that, I decided I didn’t want to try anything new, so I’ve been on an old school ParaNora kick. First, I read the Circle Trilogy (The Valley of Silence is one of the only vampire books that I can still read) and I’m currently working my way through The Sign of Seven Trilogy. When I’m done, I’m thinking of re-reading The Obsession, but I wasn’t completely impressed with it the first time around.
I’m also listening to the Harry Potter series on Audible and will be finishing the 4th book in about 20 minutes, so long as my boss doesn’t get here too soon.
I’ve also been reading for the ripped bodice bingo and it’s been fun – especially reading down my TBR.
Non-mammal shifter – The Seafarer’s Kiss by Julia Ember (mermaid / human / another sea creature) – this is an f/f YA between a mermaid and a Viking shield maiden. It’s a queer retelling of The Little Mermaid from Ursula’s point of view. With Norse mythology and Loki. I enjoyed it but it was a lot darker and with a higher body than I was expecting based on the cover and blurb. I liked the bi representation a lot but I read one review by a trans reviewer who really hated that the only trans / non-binary character is Loki, who’s portrayed as pretty evil.
Viking – First to Burn by Anna Richland (I think this was her first book and it’s definitely not as smooth as His Road Home)
Hero smells like some kind of tree – Daring Fate by Megan Erickson (pine and honeysuckle)
Queer YA/NA – Mature Content by Santino Hassell and Megan Erickson
Geek/Nerd elements – Trade Me by Courtney Milan (launch of smart watch)
bingo (middle row)
Person in uniform on the cover – Into Deep Waters by Kaje Harper (sailor)
Heroine inherits a business – Luring a Lady by Nora Robert Romance novel (free space) – Provoked by Joanna Chambers The entire conflict could have been solved with one conversation – On Point by Annabeth Albert (best friends secretly in love / lust with each other but not saying anything out of fear of ruining friendship)
Rake or rogue in the title – A Rake’s Guide to Pleasure by Victoria Dahl
Non-Regency set historical – An Unnatural Vice by KJ Charles (Victorian) – highly recommend
Beach read, set in a beach town – Summer Stock by Vanessa North – recommend