It’s time to discuss everything you’re reading and then we’ll all go buy books.
Ok, I will go buy books because I’m in a bit of a slump. The last three books on my list that I tried (yes, I keep a list – it’s the only way I’ll remember what I’m supposed to be reading when) just did not work for me at all. Huge bummer! I started making frustrated noises one afternoon and Hubby turned to me and said, “Another book you don’t like!?” This is not usually what happens when I build a list of books I want to read. So bummed out, I can’t even.
So this month, I’m going to be reading everyone’s recommendations with a lot of interest!
Redheadedgirl:
I’m reading When a Scot Ties a Knot, the new Tessa Dare, and just finished Begging for It by Lilah Pace ( A | K | G | AB ) and Delicious by Sherry Thomas ( A | BN | K | G | AB ).
Elyse:
I’m reading What a Lass Wants by Rowan Keats. It’s a medieval Scottish historical with royal intrigue. I’m also reading Naked by Eliza Redgold ( A | K | G | AB ), a historical novel about Lady Godiva. And because I multi-task I’m reading An Abundance of Katherines by John Green ( A | BN | K | G | AB )but I think I’m going to give up on it because it’s really not doing anything for me.
Amanda:
Right now, I’m reading Need Me by Tessa Bailey. This is the second book in her Broke & Beautiful series. I loved the first book, Chase Me ( A | BN | K | G | AB | Scribd ), and I’m anxiously awaiting the third book, Make Me ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) – blue collar hero and Type A heroine. YASSSS. Bailey has some of the most hilarious characters and dialogue I’ve read in a long time. After that, I think I’m going to try my first Christina Lauren – Sweet, Filthy Boy ( A | BN | K | G | AB | Au ).
Have you read anything good this month? What books did you knock off your TBR pile? Whatcha reading?
Shopping note:
After a Whatcha Reading? discussion, Lisa M emailed me to ask if I could link the books mentioned in the comments to the various retailers to make shopping a little easier. I wish I could! But I can drop some retailer links for you right here, so that if you feel like shopping, you can select your preferred retailer.
Some of these links are affiliate-enabled, and SBTB receives a percentage commission from purchases made. If you use them, many thanks. If you don’t want to us them, no worries, mate! (And if your preferred retailer isn’t here, let me know and I’ll add it for you if I can!)
I am disappointed with Scribd. I recognize that Scribd must be profitable to exist but their slashing of available romance titles feels to me like an amputation.
I read the first volume of Never Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher. I had no idea that it would end with “To be continued…” so while I enjoyed the book, I was also disappointed.
I started but did not finish Vicious Cycle by Katie Ashley; it did not speak to me. I also did not finish Tessa Bailey’s Need Me.
I read and enjoyed:
–Precarious (Jokers’ Wrath MC, #1) by Bella Jewel
–All three Rusk University Novels by Cora Carmack
–Carla Kelly’s quartet of regency novellas ~ In Love and War: A Collection of Love Stories.
–an inspirational historical romance set in WW1 France ~ Stacy Henrie’s Hope Rising (Of Love and War).
–Jenna Sutton’s All the Right Places was an enjoyable contemporary romance
–the historical western romance Seduced (Into The Wild) by Molly O’Keefe
And earlier in the week, I read The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli for my book group.
I have two books (or series) to recommend that made me happy last month. One is The Girl Next Door by Amy Jo Cousins, which was something like my ideal of a contemporary romance. It’s set among college-educated urbanites (in Chicago, a city I know, and it evoked its flavor wonderfully), and has a funny, enthusiastic, broad-minded hero and a totally memorable, totally modern heroine. It stands alone but the main characters were introduced in Off Campus which is very much worth reading too.
Secondly, I greatly enjoyed The Mystic Marriage by Heather Rose Jones. It unfortunately is not a standalone but follows directly on Daughter of Mystery which I didn’t like nearly so well. Be that as it may, these lesbian-centered fantasy adventure stories are great fun, with political intrigue in an imaginary 19th-century European country, and The Mystic Marriage has an absolutely lovely romance between a desperate young woman who is trying to win back her family honor by becoming famous for alchemy, and a worldly older countess who has a gift for smoothing social interactions and a heart that’s been battered a few times.
Apart from that — I’ve read a whole lot that I’m not sure is worth mentioning. A Discreet Gentleman of Discovery has a very interesting evocation of an unusual historical setting (18th-century Norway) but sloppy writing and a frustrating hero. Also short stories, “The Flight of the Kikayon” by Kary English, “The Storyteller” by Saki (brilliant, that one), and D.H. Lawrence’s absolutely astonishing response to the gender anxieties raised by World War I and women’s suffrage, “Tickets Please.”
Almost everything I’ve been reading lately is fine but forgettable.
Still working through some good detective series: Spenser, Erlendur, Cadfael.
I’m craving things that are detective-ish and romances, so recently reread Fast Women by Jennifer Crusie, and I accept romp as a descriptor. I want her to write more books please.
Oh, I forgot, I did really enjoy Sleeping with Her Enemy by Jenny Holiday, which I totally read because there’s a hot Asian guy on the cover, and that clearly needs to be encouraged.
I just finished a bunch of ARCs and need to wrap up my thoughts on those. One was “The Marriage Act” by Alyssa Everett which is really smart and rather sexy but whose central premise and starting point for the relationship will likely put off some readers. Then there are two amazing YA books: “A Thousand Nights” by E. K. Johnston which is pure poetry and heartstopping wonder, followed by Erin How’s “The Scorpion Rules” where royal child hostages secure world peace with the everpresent threat of their own death. Both were all kinds of wonderful.
Now I’m reading “The Royal We” which I’m sure will be absolutely delicious. Life is good.
I’m binging on Sherry Thomas’ backlist for like the third time. Not Quite a Husband still gives me all the feels.
Another book slump here. Partly it’s the weather–if it’s not really really hot it’s really really wet. Sometimes for variety it’s hot AND wet. Anyway, I feel like I’m suffering from mental mildew. I rearranged my TBR pile to see if that would inspire me, to no avail. So I gave up and re-read Patricia Wrede: Sorcery and Cecelia/The Grand tour/The Mislaid magician, and Mairelon the magician/Magician’s ward. Also re-read some Katie McAllister dragon books because she has a new one coming out on the 28th (after several years since the last one), and there are so many characters with competing agendas to sort out that I’m glad I did.
I can only remember reading two books this month.
On the other hand, I finished two afghans (one had no less than 360 loose ends that I had to weave in and felt closed!), two shrugs, two water bottle covers, started on a hat, and made more dishcloths than I know what to think about!
I like to watch television while I’m crocheting.
I rewatched all 9 seasons of The X Files (and both movies), it holds up surprisingly well. I hadn’t remembered that it was so funny.
I watched The Red Road. Really quite good. I actually had to put down the crochet for some of this.
I watched 4 seasons of Scandal. Wow! and Oh my!
And for something a little bit lighter, 3 seasons of Death in Paradise. I like!
The books I read were Laura Griffin’s Beyond, I enjoyed this, I don’t think it stands alone, there are things that would have seemed completely out of the blue had I not read the previous books. There are also some things that were referred to several times that were not explained, and have not been covered in the previous books, backstory that was just kind of assumed but never really talked about. I can cope, I totally enjoyed the book regardless.
The second was Mariah Stewart’s That Chesapeake Summer. Now I love me some Mariah Stewart, and I didn’t hate this book, on the contrary I rather enjoyed it. However, it was really weird. There was a lot of unnecessary repetition, the romance seemed entirely unearned, and then it ended just… like it hit a brick wall. If this had been my first Mariah Stewart, it would have been my last. Still, I enjoyed it.
I am currently looking forward to more crochet, more TV, and I have So Much TBR…
After about 3 months on hold at my library, I finally got to check out Pioneer Girl by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I didn’t know it was going to be so big. I didn’t get to read all of it because I had to return it (back on the hold list I go). I probably would have read more of it but I checked out another book at the same time.
It was a non-fiction book called Don’t Chew Jesus! by Danielle Schaaf and Michael Pendergast. It is a collection of stories about nuns who taught at catholic schools by former students, fellow nuns and parents of students. It was a very fun read. I highly recommend it.
Thanks for the rec Francine. Don’t Chew Jesus sounds like just the sort of walk down memory lane I’d enjoy.
Also forgot to mention I am working (and I do mean WORKING) my way through Nora Roberts Land by Ava Miles on my lunch break. The fifteen minute increments are keeping me from doing harm to my Kindle. There be a book rant on the horizon.
This has been one of my most barren reading months ever. I’m hoping that was due more to fatigue than ennui, and that if I just get caught up on rest I’ll be more in the groove. So it’s been mostly rereads of comfort books that didn’t comfort me at all. Some of Nalini Singh’s novellas which were either bland or downright annoying. Ready Player One was fun, but just not as fabulous as I’d hoped from all the buzz. Divergent was also ok but I’m wondering if I should quit with the series now since I know what’s coming. Started Liane Moriarty’s What Alice Forgot and set aside to finish later. Just started Elizabeth Bear’s Hammered–maybe the tide will turn. See? I hate being such a Debbie Downer but it’s been a total rut.
The audio side has been better but I only listen to books I’ve already read so there was nothing new. I’m a very visual person but a pretty poor listener so it’s been a good way to hone those skills. It’s been interesting how different the two experiences are. I’m working up to listening to a book I haven’t read first. Baby steps. 😀 And then I’ll see if I feel compelled to read the book afterwards.
@Kate, for Hollywood f/f you could try The Wombat Strategy by Clare McNab, although personally I thought it was only a B- read: you can see my review here.
I just finished the last volume in Jennifer Worth’s Call the Midwife series. I feel the tv show took liberties with her stories that now don’t make sense. Needless to say, books beat the tv show by a mile. I think I am really going to miss reading about these amazing women.
I started the Lake Manawa Summers trilogy by Lorna Seilstad. Book one (Making Waves) was good, but I warn other readers that the heroine is a habitual liar until about two-thirds into the story. Book two (A Great Catch) was fabulous from the first chapter and is definitely a keeper to re-read when I am feeling less than fabulous. Looking forward to finishing the series in August with book three (The Ride of Her Life).
I read Frankenstein by Mary Shelley – surprised by the original story after watching so many monster movies. Good kind of surprised.
One book was a hate read and I will warn all readers away from – Out of Control (Kincaid Brides #1) by Mary Connealy. Heroine is a “scientist” and in an early chapter, looks west to watch the sun rise over the mountains….and it gets so much worse from there.
One DNF – Lady Star by Claudy Conn. Too repetitive (especially about the heroine’s hair color) and I felt a little squicked-out by the age difference in heroine and hero.
Currently reading Summer of Promise (West Winds #1) by Amanda Cabot. I am one-third in and its an easy read, but feeling meh about it.
I just looked up Nora Roberts Land on Amazon. I do hope Nora Roberts read the manuscript before she approved the use of her name.
Why Kings Confess by C. S. Harris. Another enjoyable entry in the St. Cyr series.
Currently reading The Shadow Cabinet by Maureen Johnson. This is the last of her Shades of London trilogy, and I like it a lot!!
I’ve been running around getting ready to move back to the US, so there’s not been as much time for reading as I’d like. Plus the great Scribd slaughter of 2015 means that my TBR got slashed by 75%… I’m waiting to see how many titles are still available when I’m back in the US and then decide if I”m going to keep my subscription.
The best thing I got read before it disappeared was the fairytale series from Jill Myles aka Jessica Clare aka Jessica Sims. I really love her voice, so this was a comfort read series. My favorite was The Beast’s Bride… mostly cuz Beauty & the Beast retellings are my catnip.
@Heather S: I loved As Meat Loves Salt when I read it maybe 10 years ago!
@Vasha: Thank you for the rec, I’ve got it saved. I also have Daughter of Mystery on my kindle so I’m excited to read & The Mystic Marriage now!
I am currently reading Donna Fletcher’s Loved By A Warrior. It is one of a four book series that came out in 2012. I can’t believe I just found this author! After getting only a quarter of a way through the book, I had to buy the other books in the series and a few other of her novels! It is Scottish Highland catnip for me!!
I’m reading The Veiled Heart by Elsa Holland. She writes Victorian romance with erotic overtones – I love it.
Next is Christina Lauren – Sweet, Filthy Boy. I’ve been wanting to read this one for some time.
And the Tessa Dare Amanda’s reading looks pretty intriguing … blue collar reads with heart. Yum.
Mara: thx for recommending Beast’s Bride- I too love this type of story. I was able to buy it for $0.99 at Amazon – yay!
@ Coco – I read That Chesapeake Summer, too, and felt the romance seemed unearned or was a destination, or it was just time for Daniel to find a woman. I always like to catch up with all the characters in the previous books, so I still enjoyed the read.
The digital library fairies decided I needed to do some beach reading for the Fourth of July weekend, so I ended up with Beach Town by Mary Kay Andrews, The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand, and All the Single Ladies by Dorothea Benton Frank on my Kindle on July 3. I enjoyed all three and Dot Frank redeemed herself after last year’s train wreck as this year’s offering was about ladies of a certain age getting back in the dating pool. I loved it.
I have been reading more than my usual share of contemporaries lately. Just finished the Small Town Summer boxed set which is nine novellas set in small towns. Terri Osburn’s Awakening Anna was steamier than her Anchor Island books. My favorite was Jamie Farrell’s Moonshine & Magnolias, but I love everything she writes! Her Last Shot by Megan Ryder was a first time novella and quite good. My only nitpick was some of the stories were poorly spell-checked and/or edited. That turns into a “spot the error” game for me.
This week I plan to leave the hunky contractors and renovators (what’s up with that?) behind and read a Regency or two.
Currently reading: Captured Innocence, by Kennedy Layne. It’s the first in a series about a PI agency run by former military guys (and one woman). The first one involves a murder and a BDSM subplot, which would normally be fine, but it’s currently doing nothing for me. Maybe it’s that my tastes tend toward historical, not contemporary, or maybe it’s that, as an Army brat, I’m not all that impressed by the Navy SEAL/Green Beret/Special Forces heroes. Yawn. Not giving up, because at least the mystery is kinda interesting. Plus, it was free on Kindle.
Also recently finished: two freebies(!) that I really liked (!!). 1. Word Play, by Amalie Silver. It involves a male romance/erotica writer, a this-is-not-RWA convention, and second chance romance. 2. Hypnotic Seduction, by LL Kellogg. Another contemporary. Involves a frumpy woman who falls for her boss. I liked it because he falls for her before her makeover, and because her makeover involves no weight loss on her part. She just realized that she’s hot the way she is.
I think I might be another reader in a slump. Most of what I’ve read I’ve been pretty ‘meh’ about.
I read Asking for It, which was disappointing. I thought her handling of the subject matter was good, but I found the book itself, strangely, not compelling. I didn’t believe who Johah was/his family; that made the story somewhat cliched. I didn’t care at all about her friends and what they were going through. I think the subject matter is really important, and I really wish I’d liked it more. I probably won’t read the next book. I just don’t care enough.
Other contemporaries I read were Play With Me, which was ok, and Need Me, which I liked, but not as much as Chase Me.
I read Dragon Bound. I did not like it. Half the book was them just hanging at the penthouse. (Going to try Dragon Actually. Better?)
Non-romance: I listened to Grave Peril, #3 of the Dresden Files (still waiting for these books to get really good like everyone says. I sound a bit bitter). I also read Euphoria, which frustrated me in the way that literary fiction often does: Gorgeous writing, but cliched plot. The characters are fascinating in the details, but stock characters in the broad sense of the story.
I’m slowly making my way through Elizabeth Hoyt’s Maiden Lane series. In no particular order. I read #3 Scandalous Desires, after reading, in this order: 6, 7, and 1. I’ll read 2 next. I’m not sure why I’m not reading them in order. I also read Hoyt’s Raven Prince and I’ll definitely read the next in that series. I love Hoyt.
I really liked Honor’s Knight, the 2nd in the Paradox trilogy. I read my first Carolyn Jewel, Scandal, and I really liked it. So intense. I also loved Ember by Bettie Sharpe, a re-imagining of the Cinderella story. I thought it was so clever and feminist.
Happy Reading!
Hate to say it, but I’m still on ‘Voyager’ after two months.
In the last of these posts I mentioned I was behind because we had to place my dad in the hospital. Sadly he passed away nearly three weeks ago. So it’s been a little bit of a struggle to get re-engaged with reading/fandoms/interests in general.
Just picked the book up again a couple of nights ago, going to try to have it finished by August.
I finished Redshirts. It was my first Scalzi, and I think I’ll be reading more. Snarky sci-fi? Yes, please, gimme.
@Julia, I’ve been reading Dresden for about 10 years. Those first three books, Grave Peril is the best of the first three. Those first three books are definite works of a talented beginner. I remember the fourth book being the one where I went, “Okay, brilliant.” And it’s either the Fifth or sixth book that has my favourite opening line of all time. I love them and most people that I’ve put on to them love them. Hope they work for you in the end.
I think I’m reading Dearest Rogue By Elizabeth Hoyt next.
I’ve been in a slump lately and most of the books I really LOVED have been glom series re-reads (Krentz/Quick/Castle Arcane Society, then all the Castle books before those, for example).
BUT, a friend of mine has her third baseball romance out. Kristina Mathews’ More Than A Game series is fun and hot. So that was good.
And “Bad Wolf” by Kristen Ashley. It’s just a novella and I’m not positive I love the direction she’s going with so many shifters being kidnapped into Faerie, but I love the series enough that I’ll follow. And this particular novella is really hot!
@Michelle– I hope you enjoy it! Hard to say no to a favorite trope at $.99 🙂
I’m also reading, like crazy, all the titles in my Scribd library that are about to expire. For example, all the Belgrave House/Regency Read and all the old Signets appear to be disappearing.
Over 50% of the books I had stored to read will be deleted within three weeks. Scribd advises me that it sent a message warning of this, but I have no record of it and must have been asleep if it was discussed previously on thie SBTB site, so the very recent expiration notices came as a total shock.. I hate audiobooks, so I can’t take solace from their provision. Kindle Unlimited isn’t available in my country.
So, I wonder if SBTB could devote an article to an exploration of what options could be explored by readers of HRs who would like to cancel their Scribd subscription and join another service that offers books legally? I have been less than impressed by Scribd’s response to my queries re these changes, by the way. I read the CEO’s public message, which is mealy-mouthed, in my view.
I just finished The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones, women’s fiction with romance, one of the titles that’s expiring soon on Scribd. The amount of detail about Chinese food in this book was amazing! Now I need to make a list of the priority of the rest of the soon-expiring titles because I know I won’t get to them all, sigh!
@Crystal F: I’m so sorry about your father. It’s hard to find enjoyment in your usual pursuits when you’re grieving, and you can’t really rush the process. I personally enjoyed Voyager, but maybe you could switch to some shorter, lighter reads until you feel more up to engaging. Take care.
I just finished rereading Servant of the Crown, by Melissa McShane. It’s a fantasy romance with a strong romance against the background of political maneuvering and staring a book lover!
@Susan
Thank you for the kind words. <3
I think I'm partially doing so because I need some sense of normalcy again. I'm enjoying Voyager, it's probably my favorite in the series so far. But you're right. I may need to set it down for a little while soon, and try something easier. Thanks. 🙂
Thanks, @pamelia for the Barbara Samuels rec, “In The Midnight Rain” is .99 so I 1-clicked it.
@Joanna, D.E. Stevenson is great, and her books are old so they can often be found at library sales.
I have been powering through my Scribd books that are expiring next month. So far the best have been a pair of books by Paula Marshall. “The Dollar Prince’s Wife” ended with some unresolved plot lines but then I realized that “Prince of Secrets” continues the story of the same couple. All the Theresa Romain Season books are expiring too, and I need to read those next.
I bought the annual subscription and it was a bargain, so I’m not too bothered, I think I’ll find enough stuff left in Scribd to get my money’s worth. For instance Roz Chast’s book, “Can We Talk About Something More Pleasant?”, “Men Explain Thing To Me”(non-fiction), “Life From Scratch”(a cooking memoir), and “My Notorious Life” are all waiting TBR.
I’m currently reading “Insatiable” by JD Hawkins (1st in a series). MC sounds like a cocky bastard, but i’m holding out for something awesome. Only 1 chapter in and I already busted a gut a few times. Is it possible to reach into a book and slap the shit out of a character? B/c I’d like to, but my HOPE for eternal love and sex will never die. It might happen…. we shall see.
I’m binge reading Laura Kaye’s Hard Ink series since husband and son went on a boys-only camping trip. I can finish one and immediately start the next with no interruptions! (other than the occasional internet peek, obviously)