I know Sheri was reading Evanovich's Plum series from the beginning last month (sorry I goofed on your name originally, Sheri, my apologies), as was Alina, and Booklight said Amanda Quick's backlist was on the reading schedule – how are you enjoying them?
This week I've tried to read two self-published works, one full length and one short story, and had problems with both. But this weekend I'm spending about 10 hours in the car, and it's audio book time for me, which I'm looking forward to more than I expected. I am curious to see if I recall the story enough to review it when I'm done listening.
So what are you reading this week? Are you embarking on a massive backlist read-a-thon? What books are you loving right now?
Pff. And I just realized the earlier comment I tried to post did go through, so now I have two comments that say almost the same thing. Argh.
I just finished Robin LaFevers’ “Grave Mercy” which was very good, and I’m now reading “The Death of the Necromancer” by Martha Wells.
But I’m also reading Georgette Heyer’s “These Old Shades” because I wanted some comfort reading.
I’ve got Faith Hunter and Carrie Vaughn lined up to read, but just haven’t felt like reading them. Not in the mood for anything set in the real world.
Also in a major reading slump here. Nothing seems to hit the spot right now. I finished Madeline Hunters Regency Quartet which was actually pretty good. Also read “Mind Games” by Carolyn Crane which is a good story that starts off slow and gets better as you go on. I also read J.R. Ward’s latest. I was a little worried about whether or not I could handle the m/m sex scenes but she did a great job and I really enjoyed the book. I’m going to start “The Grand Sophy” next, then try Chloe Neill’s series ‘cause I’ve never read them. Also on deck is a new Ian Rankin. So I’m doing the reading equivalent of grazing until I find something tasty. Looking forward to seeing what everyone else is reading to get more ideas!
I discovered Victoria Dahl earlier this week and have started glomming her historicals.
My friend recommended “Flowers from the Storm” by Laura Kinsale. Also, Jayne tweeted about “Neanderthal Seeks Human” by Penny Reid. It sounds fun and I love to giggle.
Am madly cramming for Nebula Awards weekend. Just finished Throne of the Crescent Moon, am now almost done with Drowning Girl. Both books had more romance than I expected so that was a nice bonus! Next up is 2031.
I’ve been reading “No Gentleman is He” by Lynette Willows and Carley Bauer it’s a historical romance set in the Colonial period and so far, so good. Sometimes a good book is the perfect reprieve from the world and all its madness.
Came down from my Kristen Calliahn read-all-night- who-cares-about-work fest with Elizabeth Lowell’s newest “Dangerous Refuge”. Pretty good read. Started Maryjanice Davidson’s “Undead and Underwater” this morning. All hail the queen of snark. Seriously, I worship at her well shod feet. And I always come away with a new vocabulary word. Todays word: doucheboat. Read the book.
After that, cause I’ll be done with Davidson’s book tonight, it’s decisions, decisions, decisions. La Nora’s newest is sitting there sparkling at me from the coffee table, but I really need to read the Susan Elia MacNeal books that are due back to the library later this week. What to do?
captcha: and93 – and93 other unread books littering my home that I need to get to.
I’ve been alternating plowing through getting caught up on all of Naomi Novik’s Temeraire novels, and going through the newly released editions of a bunch of Doctor Who novels put out with special retro covers in honor of the show’s 50th anniversary. Have now finished the novels for the First and Second Doctors. 🙂
Meanwhile I’m also trying to plow through the big backlog of Carina books I’ve got to read, and am currently enjoying Steam & Sorcery by Cindy Spencer Pape!
(HA, my captcha word is ‘southern69’. Well, I WAS born in ‘69, and I WAS born in the South…)
I’m re-reading ‘The Chalet Girl’ by Kate Lace, and will probably re-read ‘The Movie Girl’ (same author) afterwards.
Plus I’ve got a book called ‘The Pollyanna Plan’ by Talli Roland that was recommended by a friend to get stuck into. So lots of reading to do – but probably very little time to do it!
I’m currently pressed to find time to read, makes me grumpy.
That said, I’m about 2/3 the way through The Athena Project, by Brad Thor. A friend loned it to me insisting I’d love it, only to realize that she was thinking of a different book that she had already given to me as a present that somewhere in the middle of the TBR pile. I’m mixed on it, on the one hand I find that it grabs me, on the other the detailed military tech descriptions and sudden overly cliffhanger-y chapter breaks keep pulling me out. I’ll finish it, but I dunno.
Next up? I’ll probably go with something fun but I don’t have clue as to what yet, just see where my mood takes me.
Just finished Beyond Control by Kit Rocha. I actually liked the first book better than this one. I’m trying to read authors that are going to be at the RT convention and think I’ll read Katie Porter’s Double Down because I accidentally bought the book three times!
I’m currently reading Scoundrel by Zoe Archer, second in her Blades of the Rose series. Old fashioned adventure/romance with magical elements, a devilishly charming hero who loves women, all women. Just started it. I am incredibly behind in my reading, but want to get back to it soon.
I’m reading Mary Robinette Kowal’s Glamourist Histories. Like Jane Austen but with magic! Incredibly well researched and I’m tearing through it.
Just finished kindling Cindi Madsen’s Falling for her Fiance, which starts off a little lame but quickly improves to become quite enjoyable, especially if you’re a best friends-to-lovers fan (my favorite, and I’m still recovering from some mixed reactions to Lover at Last). Part of the Bliss line, so lite on the heavy stuff and max on the shy glances and sudden thoughts.
Plans to start Kristin Higgins’ The Best Man – hopes for it, but she can be hit or miss, and IMHO no book of hers since has lived up to Just One of the Guys.
In non-romancelandia, I also need to finish Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl for a book club read.
I just finished two great romances. The first is “Wishing for a Highlander” by Jessi Gage, a time-travel highlander romance with a sweet and protective virgin hero. I’m often leery of highlander romances because some of them feature “dubious consent,” but in this one the hero is wonderful.
The other I liked is “Big Boy,” a short novella by Ruthie Knox. It’s got an unusual premise. The heroine, a busy single mother and graduate student, has been dating this guy anonymously for months, where they role-play various historical eras. And then she decides to find out who he really is. A very different sort of story, and I liked it.
I’m also in a reading slump. Why, oh why don’t my favorite authors write more? Or why aren’t there more authors who write exactly like my favorite authors, only different? (You know what I mean.) Everything has been kind of “meh” after Wolf with benefits. I did like a paranormal mystery called It takes a witch well enough to hunt for the sequel, and I liked a romantasy called Soul of fire well enough to look for the previous book, but not in the “I- must-read-these-books-NOW-and-everything-else-the-authors-have-written-including-grocery-lists” sort of way. There’s a new Amanda Quick out next Tuesday…I can’t decide whether she’s still on my must-buy-first-thing list or not.
I’ve been trying to get through A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean, but all the crap that has been going on this week has made it hard for me to concentrate on anything that doesn’t involve the Boston Marathon Bombing. I lived in Boston for nearly 2 years and I still know a lot of people that live there, one of whom was running the marathon (she is alright; she finished the marathon about 10 minutes before the blast), so it hit very close to home. I was glued to twitter Thursday night, hoping that it was going to end right then and there, but no such luck. I watched the news all day yesterday, much to my aunt’s chagrin because apparently we’re not allowed to watch news reports about anything outside of New York (it was ok for her to watch CNN for 2 weeks straight after 9/11, but I couldn’t watch it for 1 full day, even though I actually knew people in the danger zone).
It must be astrological! I am also in a reading slump, but I have Love Irresitibly and the audio of Gun Metal Magic for the weekend so I’m hopeful.
I’ve read a few books recently that were MEH.
Family Pictures by Jane Green
Dangerous Refuge by Elizabeth Lowell
Sound of Broken Glass by Deborah Crombie
Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths
All these authors have written books that I have loved, but lately…….well like I said earlier it must be astrological.
I read Shannon Stacey’s Yours to Keep. It was really good and yet very problematic for me. I was disappointed by the ending where they just wanted to rush out and have kids. What’s the d—-n rush? I also wanted a scene where Emma told her grandmother” I am fine being on my own and living as a single woman. The biggest stress in my life is the pressure You put on me to get married.” I was also disappointed that Sean never was forced to change his shitty misogyny, and that his aunt hitting people with a wooden spoon was glorified rather than treated like abuse. Finally I wish that these big families were more realistic with money problems, codependency, and intense pressure to go with the flow and suffocating the individuality out of people vs. the Disney we all love each other.”
Despite all of those issues, I actually really liked this book. I like the post-its and the pink shirts and all of the rest of it. I really enjoyed the secondary romance. I just keep waiting for thes books to get with twenty-first century. Just those few problems and wait how old was Emma supposed to be which really confused the heck out of me.
Despite all the problems grade: B+
I just finished Bite Me, Your Grace by Brooklyn Ann. Now I’m reading the Serenity novelization (which is surprisingly good). It’s a quick read, so as soon as I’m done with that, I’m going to see what other light UF, PNR, or historical romance I’ve got on my shelves that I haven’t read yet. Not diving back into anything too emotionally strenuous for a bit.
<3,
-J
@Aziza #3: I know, my experience exactly with the BDB, except I started long ago and have dragged out the pleasure/agony for years. Lover Unleashed did me in and I can barely lift my hand to pick up any more. What a waste of a potentially great female brother.
@Random Michele #23: I’m in the middle of Grave Memory and while I love the premise (Teenage assassin nuns! God of Death!) Ismae and her I-will-only-learn-what-I-want-to-learn flounce are wearing me down. My hope is that she turns out to be awesome beyond belief and less sullen.
The light of my reading life right now is Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One, as read by Wil Wheaton. At first, I was afraid I wasn’t game-versed enough, but, oh, boy, I am so excited by this futuristic quest. I’m tempted to buy the digital edition, too, so I can savor it again in a different way.
Just finished the first two Demon series books by Diana Rowland and thought they were quite good, will probably look for the rest soon.
Bought the new Mercedes Thompson book by Patricia Riggs and the first half of the book was great and then it all fell apart, IMO. The whole vampire conspiracy and Mercedes’ role, and then the last few chapters where she wraps up everyone’s storylines with one paragraph a piece? And then goes back to flesh out more detail? WTF?
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer is probably old news, but what an excellent book.
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman is next up…
I’ve been reading Rachel Aaron’s Spirit War (bought Legend of Eli Monpress on sale a while back and got hooked) Love the characters and world building, but I keep needing to take breaks. So I interrupted it with a reread of The Iron Duke and then tackled MacAllister’s You Slay Me because I was assured that her dragons were better than her vamps. Unfortunately, her heroine is still an improbable fluffbunny. I also need to finish my book club homework, Contents Under Pressure by Edna Buchanan, but that’s also a reread of something read years ago. Next up: Ruth Downie’s Semper Fidelis. Wonderful mystery series with an equally wonderful and subtle romance arc. I’m really looking forward to it.
I have to say I never used to read multiple books, and I’m not sure I like it. I seem to suffer from a lack of focus and a restlessness in my reading life these days. I find myself wondering if it’s the taint of the interwebs with their choppy prose and idea-hopping, the effects of depression, or the influence of encroaching age. I wonder if others have noticed changes in their reading habits over time.
I posted before reading the thread, and I find it fascinating that so many are suffering from reading slumps. Makes me hope my own issues stem from external rather than internal causes. Not current events, since reading changes preceded them. Spring fever, perhaps?
I am reading my first Tessa, A Lady By Midnight. Then have either Jessica Clare’s Stranded with a Billionaire, or Lauren Dane’s Going Under. (With After Hours by Cara Mckenna as a possibility).
I’m reading Reforming Lord Ragsdale by Carla Kelly. My GoodReads friends were right, this is really good.
This weekend I’m reading The Mirror of Honor by Christine de Pizan, fifteenth century proto-feminist writing on the proper conduct of women in charge, because I had an SCA event and I like something not totally out of place to read during down moments. But yesterday I read “The Lady Always Wins” by Courtney Milan.
Just finished Paige Thomas’ Starstruck. Gripping read, very good writing. Too bad she hasn’t written more.
Also this week, I read Jennifer Ashley’s Lone Wolf (oh the goodness), Tatiana March’s Rugged (sweet but steamy romance w/ virgin hero), and Katie Porter’s Double Down (once bought on recommendation from here, which is hardly ever wrong) – too bad the rest of the series is BDSM, so I’m not going to read it.
I’ve spent the past 2 weeks packing up all my shit to put in storage. We got one with tickets to Thailand, which I would ordinarily be very excited about, but I’m mostly exhausted. And stressed. Particularly since I haven’t been able to read much. Or sleep. Plus this horrific news lately. And the apparently fated reading slump.
I did really enjoy Along Came Trouble by Ruthie Knox.
I am now going to lie in bed and pretend to nap, but probably just question all of the decisions I’ve made in the past… Forever. But as soon as I’m refreshed from that, I’m going to start putting all these recommendations onto my Nook, so I have things to read on the interminable flight. And the ensuing year-ish of travel. So please, keep the suggestions coming.
The Lass Wore Black by Karen Ranney. It’s the best historical I’ve read this year…maybe longer than that. It has soooo many feelings. Also started reading Body Work by Elle Kennedy out loud to my hubby in the car. Has a hockey player hero which is cool, but I’m not far enough to have a real opinion yet.
I’m in the middle of The Heir by Grace Burrowes which is great unfortunately I started with the most recent one and am now working backwards through the series – I really am enjoying them though!
I just finished Things I Can’t Forget by Miranda Kenneally. I’ve loved all of her books so far, though I think Catching Jordan is my favorite just for having an elite-level quarterback for a heroine. (I wanted to play football like my brothers SO BAD when I was a kid, but my parents never would let me try.)
I’m not in a reading slump. 😛 Just getting into the last 100 pages of Elizabeth Chadwick’s A Place Beyond Courage and it’s awesome.
Horrible week in the world, so consequently, am completely into comfort reading. Two re-reads (read a few times before at that) of Nora Roberts books ‘Montana Sky’ and ‘Key of Light’. That woman is my comfort reading crack. I am sure that is due to the genuine emotional resonance that she creates.
Also in the past week I’ve really enjoyed the m/m romance ‘Faith and Fidelity’. Bought and read its sequel in quick succession.
Tasha Alexander’s ‘And only to deceive’ was a sweet, even if the romance element was quite low key (because of the continuing nature of the series). Also refreshing to read Victorian romance rather than Regency.
Now I just have to drag myself off old favorites and read the new books I’ve already got sitting my kindle. That list of purchases is already fifty strong.
That list might get longer today, with all the other recommendations in the thread.
I’m desperately trying to finish Faith Hunter’s Mercy Blade before the Kindle Library goons come take it away from me. After that, I’ll probably start on The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa.
Just finished Escorted by Claire Kent not too long ago and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
Also read Real by Katy Evans and now really wished I hadn’t.
I am reading the latest in the latest in the Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series What Darkness Brings. So far, so good.
I’m reading Neanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid; so far laugh out loud and excellent excape. Love the heroine! and the hero is a bad boy alpha. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary or unusual then I reccommend.
I’ve been reading the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning and loving it!
I’ve been reading The Princes Trilogy by Elizabeth Hoyt, and devouring it. I’m currently on The Leopard Prince. I cashed in a lot of recycling last night, so I’ll be picking up more of her novels.
I find just browsing for books a form of relaxation and escape from things. Of course, that means having twenty-six titles literally sitting in my TBR pile already.