It’s the most… wonderful tiiiiiiiime… of the month. Time to share what we’re reading! (I bet you thought I was going to wish you a happy period or something. Ha. Not.)
It’s the time when we talk about what we’re reading, we ask you what books you’re enjoying, and then we all buy everything that sounds interesting and bemoan our credit card statements. What could be better?!
Sarah: I am reading Act Like It by Lucy Parker, out 11/30, and, you guys, I am SO VERY enjoying this book. The thing that keeps my brain, which is still exhausted, so interested is the subtle way that the language is British English. It’s not just “bugger” or “have done” or “cuppa” or anything like “colour” or “favourite.” The rhythm of the sentences is different, and the way subordinate clauses are organized and arranged in a sentence is subtly distinct, so the language itself has a tremendous sense of place. Even the descriptions of action are unique in the use of English – I’m loving it. Like world-building through subordinate clauses.
The language thing is funny, too, because I think the author, Lucy Parker, is a Kiwi. So hey, maybe the language is Kiwi English but because it’s in London I think it’s Brit-lish, and someone fluent in England-ish will read it and be like, WTF are you on?
The plot is pretty freaking great so far, too – the heroine is a stage actress who has a charity project, and the dude in charge of the show she’s in currently has pledged Saturday profits will be donated to her charity… if she’ll pretend to have a relationship for the press with the lead of the show. It will improve ticket sales, it’ll increase her name recognition, and it’ll rehab his public image, which is pretty shitty because he’s part socially-awkward Darcy and hot-tempered impatient sourpuss, and hasn’t really figured that he needs to hide all that. The dialogue has layers, which I love, and the heroine isn’t too twee for words — I’m really enjoying it.
TL;DR: Language is awesome, so is romance.
Elyse: I just finished November 9 by Colleen Hoover ( A | K | G | AB | Au ). It didn’t do much for me personally, but I can see why fans of angsty New Adult would enjoy it. For me it was over the top, and just not executed well enough to pull off the drama.
I’ve been a little off my game reading-wise because I’m in holiday knitting mode. I have been slowly working my way through The Witches by Stacy Schiff and enjoying that.
Carrie: Kingfisher by Patricia A. McKillip. Even the horrible, horrible formatting on this digital ARC can’t erase how lovely the language is in this book. When it finally comes out in it’s polished form, it’s going to be luminous. Lots of food in it – most of the major characters have an interest in cooking or running a restaurant.
I wish it came with a cookbook. An illustrated cookbook.
Amanda: Screaming!
I’ve been hesitant to start anything new over the weekend because of this puppy – Sweet Ruin by Kresley Cole ( A | K | G | AB | Au ).
Cole writes my favorite paranormal series and I’ll keep putting her books into my eyeballs until they fall out of my face. Which, even if they did, hopefully our technology would have advanced enough so I could have bionic eyes and keep reading.
Before this, I was reading Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy, though I haven’t finished it yet. I’m usually pretty tough when it comes to YA books, but this was recommended to my by about ten people. The heroine of the book also loves Dolly Parton, which speaks to me so much, because I frequently worship at the house of Dolly. RedHeadedGirl: Earls Just Want to Have Fun by Shana Galen ( A | BN | K | G | AB | Au ), which she describes as quirky and fun, and I’m finding it to be a touch angstier than “fun” implies.
I’m also reading Rise of the Northmen, anthology of erotic short stories. And I’m on the lookout for a new ridiculous old skool, had a couple that didn’t pan out.
What about you? What are you reading that’s rocking your world, or maybe making you hunt for something else? Please share!
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I read a lot this month! And I’ve been burning through audiobooks like crazy cooking and cleaning and omg, Thanksgiving is almost here!
Faves
– “A Dark-Adapted Eye” / “Asta’s Book” / “Brimstone Wedding” by Barbara Vine aka Ruth Rendell (audio) – So, I listened to “Dark”, LOVED IT, and listened to the next two immediately. “Dark” is incredible but they’re all good. If gothic mysteries are your thing, Kate Morton, etc, check these out!
– “Radiance” by Catherynne M. Valente (audio) – a weird, space opera. It’s the 1940’s, Hollywood is on the moon, and a famous documentarian has gone missing on Venus. Also, space whales! Honestly the weirdest and coolest thing I’ve read in a while.
– “Manners and Mutiny” / “Soulless” by Gail Carriger – I finished “Manners” and had to start rereading “Soulless” right away, that’s how delightful it was.
– “The Monster of Florence” by Dougles Preston – A true crime story about a case that goes off the freaking rails in Italy, absolutely insane.
Okay
– “Memiors of a Professional Cad” by George Sanders – funny but gets kind of bitter by the end
– “Irrepressible: The Jazz Age Life of Henrietta Bingham” by Emily Bingham – a biography of a bisexual woman during the interwar period is right up my alley, and the research done by the author is great, the subject, though, is a little frustrating
– “In the Woods” by Tana French – loved the writing, hated the main character. I can’t wait to read book 2, because apparently has nothing to do with him.
– “A Natural History of Dragons” by Marie Brennan (audio) – fun and light and quick, but maybe dragons aren’t my thing?
– “The Night Sister” by Jennifer McMahon – a surprising monster story
– “A Desperate Fortune” by Susanna Kearsley – it was a nice read but it didn’t quite hit what I wanted it to
Miss
– “The Royal We” by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan – it started out really fun and I liked that it reminded me of Notting Hill, cause I love Notting Hill, but the way they dealt with the Lady Diana-esque character just rubbed me really wrong. It was a weird way to deal with the whole situation.
Currently Reading
– “The Goblin Emperor” by Katherine Addison –
I’m really liking it so far!
I feel like I’ve finally broken my reading slump. Here’s the highlights:
The Good:
So Sweet by Rebekah Weatherspoon- I heard about this novella in Courtney Milan’s newsletter and had to check it out when I saw it pop up on Scribd (now expired, of course). I was hesitant because the set-up of the heroine looking for a sugar daddy did not appeal to me at all. It ended up working for me because I loved the author’s voice and the characters. I definitely recommend checking it out.
The Name of the Game by Jennifer Dawson- I really loved the hero in this one. He’s a geeky, uptight professor who thinks he has no chance with the hot heroine that reminds him of all the popular girls that rejected him in high school. The heroine thinks he’s an uptight jerk. Obviously it’s a friends to enemies love story with is a favorite trope of mine. The conflict towards the end of the book didn’t quite work for me and parts dragged on but the well-developed characters and witty dialogue made me enjoy it overall.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo- I thought this book was a great first book in a series. It’s essentially a heist book that ties up the major plot enough that it felt satisfying while still leaving me excited about the next book.
Rock Redemption by Nalini Singh- Really enjoyed this one. It’s a sweet friends to lovers and second-chance romance with a tortured hero.
True Divide by Liora Blake- I didn’t like this quite as much as the first in this series (I haven’t read the second book yet but I had to get this one done before it expired on Scribd), but I still really enjoyed it. I loved the hero. Blake writes heroes that are simultaneously sweet and crude. There is a happily ever after but not everything is resolved perfectly at the end which I actually liked in this case.
Career of Evil by Richard Galbraith aka J. K. Rowling- I really liked this one. Possibly my favorite of the series so far.
The Mixed:
Walk on Earth With a Stranger- I enjoyed this book but it felt like all set-up and not enough action or resolution.
The Vacant Chair- I enjoyed the love story between the hero and heroine and the setting but the story dragged at times. I still would recommend if you’re looking for a Civil War historical.
The Misses:
Brown-Eyed Girl by Lisa Kleypas- I really wanted Joe’s POV. He came off as a very generic romance hero. I did like Avery but the book just wasn’t what I wanted it to be.
Highlander Undone by Connie Brockway- I almost didn’t finish this one. It was so bland and the characters had no development. Every once in a while the plot would get interesting but it wasn’t enough to save the rest of the book.
Right now I’m reading Pucked Up by Helena Hunting. I’m three chapters in and it’s not grabbing me. It will probably have to wait until I finish Jessica Jones on Netflix (the first three episodes were so good). For any other tv binge-watching fans out there I highly recommend Master of None, also on Netflix. I’ll stop now or this post will never end.
It’s been a pretty disappointing month romancewise (I tried that new Kristen Callihan and a few other things, nothing worth it) but luckily science fiction and fantasy continue to be wonderful. Some highlights: I’ve read lots and lots of short stories, plus Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor (really energizing and amazing!) and a collection of strange, individual stories by C.S.E. Cooney, Bone Swans. Also the entire ‘Ancillary’ trilogy by Ann Leckie.
I’m a student, and November is “crunch time” – too many papers due with not enough time for fun reading. That being said, I currently have 3 books on the go:
On my bedside table: A re-read of The Lyre of Orpheus by Robertson Davies (I’ve read this book so many times before and love it, so it is perfect for reading a couple of pages before I fall asleep exhausted each night.
On my e-reader: Two Times as Hot by Cat Johnson (Very meh – probably won’t pick up any more of her books. This is where my romance reading tends to happen – library books since I don’t have much disposable income these days for reading on the bus and at the gym.)
For class: Yes, I’m taking a course this term that allows me to read novels! Confessing to Love: Theology and Literature. In the past week, I finished To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf (I didn’t like it at first, but it grew on me) and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (This was a re-read for me – a book that makes me laugh and cry often on the same page – it should be required reading for all North Americans.). Up next is The Road to Stilt House by David Adams Richards (I have to find time between now and Tuesday to read the first half – have I mentioned that I have a couple of essays due next week?!)
@Kate: I love, love, love Robertson Davies. I need to reread him every few years.
I was in the mood for some meaty historical fiction last month and reread The First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough. I’m currently reading Love in the Afternoon and Other Stories. It’s a collection of short stories by Penny Vincenzi. They’re not spectacular, but it’s fairly enjoyable. I picked up a couple of K.J. Charles’s works last week, which I am looking forward to starting, since I really enjoyed Think of England.
I’ve been on a bit of a clicking spree lately, but haven’t started anything. My Kindle library stares reproachfully at me. “Read Me!” it says, but I’ve been in a months-long book slump, to the point where I’m almost afraid to start something new, because I have become gloomily certain I will be disappointed.
I’m reading FROM BALLET TO THE BATCAVE AND BEYOND by the late Yvonne Craig. Susprisingly, it’s over $400 on Amazon but $25 on http://www.yvonnecraig.com .
I am addicted to holiday rom-coms so I’ve been watching a lot of Hallmark movies instead of reading.
But I’m hoping to read some books over Thanksgiving weekend, including Hidden Huntress by Danielle Jensen.
This month I finished Bloodfever and it was good enough that I started the next book in the series, Faefever. Both books are Dark Fantasy novels in The McKayla Lane series . While these book are good they’re Grimdark and I had to stop reading Faefever and take a break cause the series is so heavy.
Currently I’m reading the slightly more upbeat book, Winter by Marissa Meyer. This book is the final book in the Lunar Chronicles series and so far Meyer does not disappoint. I think this book is my 2nd favorite on the series.
If you haven’t read any of the Lunar Chroncles I suggest you go pick up Cinder right now! This series is perfect for romance and fairy tale fans alike, although the series is not a romance and should be read in order.
I can’t seem to get into any romance books of late. So I am bingeing on non-fiction and enjoying myself on all sorts of nerdy topics.
Sound Off!: American Military Women Speak by Dorothy and Carl J. Schneider. 4/5 stars. These were the women who came before me and helped my military career by the work they did.
Undaunted by Tanya Bianks. 3.5/5 stars. How life is like for military women in today’s military via profiles on four women.
Ashley’s War by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon. 3/5 stars. The story of women attached to the Army Rangers and Green Berets on the frontline in Afghanistan.
American Pain by John Temple. 4.5/5 stars. The rise of Oxycontin abuse in America.
The Taming of Mei-Lin and Capturing the Silken Thief by Jeannie Lin. Consider me officially on the Ms. Lin bandwagon. Picked up more of her work during the Harlequin sale.
The Real Mr. Right (Jersey Boys #1) by Karen Templeton. So completely disappointed in this book. 0 stars. I think this book is what broke up me and the romance genre.
I am following this thread at my great peril since I put myself on a read 2 before you buy 1 diet last month. The TBR pile is out of control and I spent most of October reading Voyager by Diana Gabaldon.
I am currently reading Blasphemy by Sherman Alexie, a collection of short pieces, which I mostly love.
This month I read Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry, Let it Snow by Heidi Cullinan and Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh and I enjoyed all fine but didn’t knock my socks off. I also read The Shameless Hour by Sarina Bowen which I loved. I think I have 2 Ivy Years books left that I haven’t read.
This week I saw Anthony Doerr and now I can’t wait to read any of his stuff but mostly, All the Light We Cannot See. I also saw Patti Smith and am looking forward to reading M Train.
I’m reading The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin for a GoodReads group, and I’m really enjoying it so far. It’s been a while since I’ve read science fiction that didn’t have any romantic plot to it, and after this I might go back to romance for a while (probably read more of the Brides of the Kindred books because that’s become my crack series.)
My reading has dropped considerably this month, which is probably a good thing, since I have my own novella to finish. 🙂
This is what I read this month:
“Bared to You” by Sylvia Day. Hadn’t read any of her books before and was curious. Well, I’m doomed now. I enjoyed it very much and would like to read the rest of this series (like I NEED another series to buy).
“Jukebox Hero,” a novella by Teri Anne Stanley. It was an interesting story–set in the 1950s, and a nice steamy romance, but a little too short for my taste.
“Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide” by Stephenie Meyer. This book has been in my TBR stack for quite awhile and since “Life or Death” came out, thought it would be a nice time to read it. Lots of repetition, but brought back memories of when I was obsessed with this series.
Currently reading: “Life or Death” by Stephenie Meyer. I loved Twilight (read it 4 times) so of course I had to read this one. It’s interesting, but I’m just not getting into it like I had with Twilight. Probably because I read Twilight 4 times! 🙂 When I finish this one, I plan on reading “Playing With Fire” by Tess Gerritsen. I love her books!
I’m thinking I need to be on Pamela’s diet of “Read 2 books before buying 1.” My TBR pile is getting ridiculous, but I’m not sure I have enough willpower for that diet. Haha! 🙂
I just finished the graphic novel “Blue is the Warmest Color” and it had so many feels and WHY do so many lesbian (gay/bi/trans*/queer) stories have to be So Freaking SAD?!?! I am anticipating the GN release of “The Infinite Loop” and hoping it will be a happier-ever-after lesbian story. I am also chomping at the bit for Star Trek #51 (IDW’s ongoing series) because the cover is freaking epic.
Right now I am reading “Soundless” by Richelle Mead. It’s different – based on Chinese folklore, everyone is deaf. I think a friend of mine who was a Chinese linguist in the military and whose dad is deaf (so ASL is also amongst her skills and interests) might enjoy it.
I am contemplating a re-read of “When Books Went to War” because it’s in paperback now. I already bought it in hardcover when it came out but I also bought the paperback and I know you fine ladies won’t judge me for that.
Followed a few recommendations this month: Guarding Jane Doe by Harper Allen, which I enjoyed but not quite enough to continue the series. I downloaded Lady Susan by Jane Austen but haven’t read it yet because I *gasp* enjoyed P&P but no more than I’ve enjoyed a hundred other romances.
Last night I read The Best Laid Plans (and still wonder at the pun in that title) by Sarah Mayberry. It has been a long time since I’ve read category romance and it was nice to have that particular pleasure again. I would read a lot more if HQ would permanently lower their ebook prices to $2.00 or even $3.00. I don’t want authors to suffer financially, but those category books are a short read! I recall a time when I consistently read 2 daily.
I read Christi Caldwell’s Scandalous Seasons series and enjoyed them all. I found the plots above average in originality and the characters engaging. Then for a change of pace I switched to Santa Viking, a volume of 2 Christmas novellas by Sandra Hill. I dunno about those. The first was set in Viking and Saxon times, which I usually avoid. But I found it charming —although it would probably make you historical purists crazy — because the attitudes and smart mouth comments felt very 20/21st century. The second story was almost slapstick but pulled away just in time to resolve into a generously spirited Christmas story.
Arranged, a contemporary romance by Catherine McKenzie, was also a little different. A young woman, unlucky in love, decides to try an arranged marriage. An original idea — not just the concept, but the entire plot continued to surprise — excellently handled.
I started The Know-It-All, by A.J.Jacobs but stalled. It is written in an engaging voice, but I think better for reading while commuting or expecting frequent interruptions than for settling in for an evening because the story comes in alphabetical snippets.
In between I read Janet Evanovich’s re-issued pre-Plum romantic, comedic novels and that was so much fun I wish there were more.
Wait, there’s a new Galbraith? OK, gonna make this quick, no time to figure out what I read all month. This week’s highlights:
Lorraine Heath’s Texas Glory is relentlessly emotionally manipulative and I was so happy about it. It is a work of art and gave me so many feelings.
Winter was… almost as good as the other Lunar Chronicles. I’m just sulky because it was the last one. I wanted it to keep going! Why doesn’t Iko get a book, dammit?
Finally my turn at the library for the first Phrynne Fisher book, which made me like the TV series even more. Deeply satisfying.
I just finished Four Nights With the Duke by Eloisa James. I have this weird thing where whenever I get sick (I had a I mostly enjoyed it. The playing with tropes really was pretty amusing, but I found the idea that an intelligent, successful woman like Mia would have such an issue with self-confidence stemming from an incident from when she was fifteen. And her insistence that sex that was actually interesting was a bad thing was a bit infuriating, if probably in keeping with the time. Of course, it probably would have helped if Vander hadn’t been such an ass for the majority of the book. He had his good points, but Lord, could he be an idiot.
I read Carry On by Rainbow Rowell for my FB book club. I love me some RR.
I tried to read The Aeronaut’s Windlass by Jim Butcher and it pretty much confirmed that nothing can make me like steampunk. Even the author of the Dresden Files.
I also read The Rest Of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness, and liked the concept but the execution left me a little bit cold. I’m still not sure why, since I adored the Chaos Walking series.
I now, like one of the fearless leaders above, have The Witches: Salem, 1692 by Stacy Schiff to get going on. It’s got a gazillion holds at the library, so I need to get it handled so that my fellow compatriots can also marvel at the lunacy of the Salem witch trials.
I got distracted and didn’t finish my thought. Me sick = historical romance. Established pattern.
I just finished Rick riordan’s blood of Olympus series. I thoroughly enjoyed it despite the fact that I’m 53 and the books are found in the children’s section of the library. They slightly fill in the hole left by harry potter.
I started Lisa kleypas’ cold hearted rake, but I’m having troubles with it. I don’t particularly like either the hero or the heroine. I’m only 14% of the way through though, so it may get better.
More successful for me has been elizabeth Hoyt’s dearest rogue. I prefer Hoyt characters and her writing to keypads.
Kleypas not keypads, though I suspect I would enjoy Hoyts
writing over a keypad as well
Just finished the Outback Bachelor Ball Series which I either saw recommended here or on Dear Author or both. Really enjoyed it and while they say you can read in any order, I think it works best if you’ll do Win/Woo/Wait.
I’ve almost finished G. M. Mailliet’s Wicked Autumn, the first of a British MI5 agent turned vicar series which reminds me of PBS’ Grantchester. It’s not a romance. Yet. Maybe never, I don’t know. One can always hope.
Listening to Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff, awesome WWII New Guinea jungle survival story. Listening while doing housework has made the latter palatable for the first time ever.
OK, having put Galbraith on hold I feel like I have to pop back and issue trigger warnings about the Heath book because there are so many things that I know many people consider deal breakers, plus tropes I avoid like the plague, from small stuff, like I grew up in Boston and American history is dead to me, you *cannot* make me care, and I have unspeakably little interest in Texas specifically (unless it is real life and someone might feed me BBQ) and there are kids in it, oh-please-god-no, down to major stuff, like, I don’t want to read about reproductive issues and Bad Things happen to everyone, including kids, which, no, if I don’t want kids in my romance novels I really don’t want them to suffer and worse – only it’s So Good, it’s just So Fucking Good and seriously worth considering even if you don’t do those kind of books because it’s not just some rote piling on of trauma to create a sympathetic backstory – she is relentless with the trauma, it’s true, but it is for realz cathartic, like, meaningful and cleansing and transformative and I highly recommend this book, you can trust it with your pain.
[breath]
My impression may have been heightened due to fever delirium. But I don’t think so.
Just read Courtney Milan’s latest (Trade Me). Oh, I loved this book, even when it got a little crack-tastic at the end.
I am pretty certain that I’ll read anything Milan writes.
She’s a fine writer, and I suspect an equally fine person.
She really gets that we are all a little broken, somehow, and yet we still deserve (and if we are lucky, can actually find) love.
I had a good reading month again – last month was a whole lot of meh.
My big accomplishment: I finally read the last three books in Barbara Hambly’s Winterlands quartet. I’ve had these in first edition hardcover since original publication, but got scared off by how much they were likely to hurt – Hambly was married to a man who struggled with drug addiction, and possession by demons in these books is neither happy nor sexy. Glad I finally summoned the gumption.
Hambly also has an additional Antryg & Joanna short and an additional Winterlands short at Scribd and other usual suspects, beyond the large number I mentioned a few months back.
I reread Edith Layton’s Love in Disguise, an 80s Signet Super Regency that remains the most successful instance for me of a love triangle that works. Hope this one becomes available electronically someday, my paperback is in rough shape.
Ann Leckie’s Ancillary Mercy was a worthy end to one of the best SF trilogies of the decade so far. Background ideas move to foreground and take on new significance, and some enjoyable added humor.
Kat Spears’ Sway is a YA Cyrano de Bergerac if Cyrano and Christian were both pretty awful people. The narrator is a great voice, though the female characters felt oddly static to me given how much I enjoyed some of the male characters.
I finally got to K.J. Charles’ Think of England, and it was excellent as advertised. I don’t read much M/M but I’ll be looking up her other work. Her protagonist really worked for me in all his lack of introspection.
Elizabeth Hand’s barely-fantasy short novel Wylding Hall (recently <$4 or at Scribd) is about an English folk band recording at a spooky old manor. It's told in interview form and I enjoyed the different narrative voices. A fun quick read if you like the early days of folk or folk-rock.
I am reading all of Mary Balogh’s Survivor series. Man she can write some interesting characters. They are so different book to book and she can really capture their voices. The second book is a little blah for me so I didn’t finish it but the others really standout from other books of this genre.
I’m re-reading my library of historicals. Balogh’s Survivor series; the Fairy Tale books by Eloisa James; everything by Kleypas. I LOVED Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair for my Sci-Fi fix along with Gabriel’s Ghost. I just started The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward (Whard? Snicker), but I’m not liking it much. The female characters are stereotyped and not at all likable.
I’m off to investigate that new Courtney Milan book!
Bless you Amanda! I had no idea there was a new Kresley Cole in the offing. Clickity click. Hey, look at this, she has a preorder contest going for a complete IAD backlist, among other things. In case anyone is interested. And click.
I finished Vicki Pettersson’s Swerve this morning. It’s a departure from her usual urban fantsay, but no less action packed and full of swerves.
I’m rationing The Hook Up during lunch breaks because it’s the kind of thing I know I’ll just fall into a time warp with. The one where you surface, look around and think: When did the sun go down? And I my to do list is waaaaay to long for that.
I’ve got volumes four and five of Y: The Last Man waiting in the wings as a reward for accomplishing my housekeeping/Thanksgiving prep goals today. Since there are already 4″ of snow on the ground with more coming down, I figure the distractions will be few.
Finished LaNora’s Stars of Fortune earlier this week. It’s pretty standard fare from her. No new ground broken, characters we’re familiar with (not one, but two Irishmen in a NR paranormal, what a surprise), and yet, so readable who cares? I needed something easy and enjoyable this week and this fit the bill.
Mostly I’ve been doing cookbooks. Alton Brown’s Good Eats 1 through 3 to brush up techniques. Rose Levy Beranbaum’s The Pie and Pastry Bible for her pumpkin pie technique, although I’m sticking with the Gourmet’s recipe and her fabulous chocolate cream pie. The Best Recipe from Cook’s Illustrated and American Favorites by Betty Rosbottom for iteration #4 of my shopping list as the traditional elements of the meal come from them.
@Varian Rose: It’s funny you should say that about left Hand of darkness. It’s a while since I read it myself, but as far as I remember there’s a significant romantic plot line in the book. At least significant enough to make me cry. A very good book that made an impression on me.
Just finished a wonderful m/m short story collection called BARE STUDS. I highly recommend it, different settings and not overly graphic, just lovely.
Just started a period mystery from Cassandra Chan called THE YOUNG WIDOW. Starts out so well that it immediately grabbed my attention.
Just finished Stronger, a memoir by Jeff Bauman with Bret Witter.
Bauman is the injured man being pushed in the wheelchair in the Boston Marathon bombing photo – it’s an amazing book. Especially given current events in Paris, I highly recommend reading this – he puts so much in perspective. It was like sitting down and having a beer with him. Reading it, I had the feeling that you get when you visit with a really good friend ten years later and you click, even though you’re out of touch. And yet it’s timely and informative and really moving. I didn’t find it sad or upsetting – although YMMV.
Also, the YA I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios. This was fiction, but I found it darker than Stronger. It was excellent.
The heroine is a high school senior, without resources, in extremely rural California, but she has a scholarship to college. She just has to get through the last summer and get there. The question all the way through – will she make it? Will she get her dream or will she lose her way? She has problems with her alcoholic mother, a father who died in a drunk driving accident years ago, and then … a guy a couple years older returns to town. I think it’s a good read for HS kids in city/suburban environments who don’t really understand what it’s like to be way out in the country and why people don’t just do what they want – an engrossing story that presents the type of life where you have to drive 45 minutes just to buy a pair of socks or diapers.
Also Lee Child’s Make Me – the latest Reacher – good, I read it in two days, but not one of my favorites in the series.
So I’ve had a good month of reading. Including some re-reads for balance. The good. Land of the Beautiful Dead by R Lee Smith. It was a little long but her writing is deliciously addictive. Also read Grace Burrowes The Captive and cannot believe how she churns these stories out and their all so good. I re-read Sunshine (Robin McKinley recent sale) which is fantastic. My Dearest Enemy by Connie Brockway (Pen pal trope!). I also re-read Daughter of Fortune by Dawn Linsey and since my copy was starting to look tattered I went in search online for a replacement. the cheapest one I could find was $277.!! Whaa? somebody needs to put these books up digitally stat! *cough* Patricia Veryan *cough*.
The Not so Good. I was disappointed in Reapers Fall by Joanna Wylde. I just didn’t like Painter that much so I’ll save the love for the next book. Also a miss was Dance with Me by Heidi Cullinan and I REALLY loved that Amazon cover! Next up the new Lisa Kleypas and Alice Clayton’s Nuts.
I haven’t done as much reading as usual because I’m working on NaNo, but I did read a couple of awesome books this week. The first was His New Jam by Shannyn Schroeder. It is the newest book in her Hot and Nerdy series, which comes out on Tuesday. These books are really short–about 100 pages, but they don’t feel like stereotypical novellas (i.e. they have full story arcs and don’t need to be longer to be satisfying). His New Jam is about a couple of music nerds, who fall for each other. The best part was that the hero learned how to play Sweet Child O’ Mine on the tenor sax.
The other book I read was Status Update by Annabeth Albert. It is the first book in her new #gaymers series. I LOVED this book–it is the kind of book that when you’re reading it you forget everything you’re supposed to do. I’ve never read an LGBT romance before, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but the description on Netgalley had me excited to read it. It is about a closeted gay man, who comes to accept himself and fight for the love that he has always been afraid of because of religious and familial pressure. So good. It comes out on December 7th.
It’s 5:12 PM–are you holding your kitty? At least that’s what my kitty thinks should be happening. He’s sure that his contract specifies late afternoon cuddling, so I’ll make this short. I don’t remember where the recommendation came from but I’ve read the first two of Lilith Saintcrow’s Bannon and Clare series of gaslight fantasy/mysteries. Not a romance, but good nonetheless (although the clothes on the covers are a good 30 years off).
Sadly, I hit the Book Fair Foundation sale and came out with only a few books that really interest me, one of which is an Elsie Lee romance that I’d never heard of, so that should be interesting reading BUT, at the moment I’m all about Karen Chance’s latest in the Cassie Palmer series, “Reap the wind,” which has all the usual breakneck crazysauce, plus cheese grits and tikka masala. Then I had to go back and re-read the last book in her Midnight’s daughter series, “Death’s mistress,” because the events in the two books take place at the same time, although the respective heroines have never met, yet.
Then, of course, next week it will be time for what I expect to be epic insanity in G.A. Aikin’s latest, “Feel the burn.” Kachka Shestakova etc. etc. and Gaius Domitus–I can’t wait.
A Mackenzie Clan Gathering by Jennifer Ashley- her latest Mackenzie installment. Ian is smoking hot as usual and his Scottish accent was more pronounced…I think it was more pronounced I was drinking good whiskey while I was reading it. Hell, I probably had a Scottish accent by the time it was over. I bought the Hurley Boys trilogy by Lauren Dane because of the super low prices. I must say, Ezra from Broken Open is my new pretend boyfriend.
@Lizabeth S. Tucker: I was looking up the authors in that anthology you mentioned, and came across an interesting blog discussion about diversity in queer romance on the site of one of them, Allen Jay. He writes, “How much of queer romantic fiction has two dudes, gender conforming, having an ultimate end goal of being ‘exclusively together’? Pretty much most of it.” And the commenters have a lot to say.
Jay Allen had another good idea in an interview: “I’d like to see the emergence of HIH to accompany the HEA and HFN. A HIH is Happy It Happened. Sometimes we experience a love so profound that it changes us. It was so important, and leaves us in the place for a HEA to happen in the future, that it needs its own story. But even though a HIH is about deeply felt love and a connection so important to the character that life will never be the same, because it’s a moment that was never going to last it doesn’t really fit with romance. So its not likely to happen.”
He’s right, you know: I can find HIH stories very satisfying. I wonder why they’re excluded from the romance genre.
Ooh I’ve been very lucky lately! I just finished Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and I now have a major Good Book Hangover. It might be my favorite YA romance of all time. Really.
Also, I finally read Rose Lerner’s A Lily Among Thorns which, honestly, I just KNEW I would love and it was even better than I expected.
I adored the latest K.J. Charles novella, The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh, and now I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. The first book, A Fashionable Indulgence, was good and got me hooked even though I wasn’t 100% invested in that couple. But yeah, don’t skip the novella!
The latest novella from Book Smugglers Publishing – The Case of the Little Bloody Slipper by Carlie St. George – was all kinds of awesome and I’m so happy there will be two more of these “fairytale noir” novellas. They’re standalones though so definitely go read the first one on Book Smugglers if you haven’t already!
Oh and I love the Rat Queens.
Good to know the latest Galbraith is living up to expectations. I’m looking forward to that one, and I’ll try to get my hands on Valente’s Radiance!
@Tina, hands off!! Ezra Hurley is MY pretend boyfriend!
I read the first two books in the Iron Seas series by Meljean Brook, which I really liked. The hero was a little problematic in the first one, but her heroines and world-building are fantastic. I also read and loved Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett (part of Discworld, but reads as more of a one-off since it follows characters that won’t appear in the other books).
Finally, I read the most recent Galbraith book. I liked it, but I thought it was a little over-long at times, and I wasn’t expecting it to be quite so dark. It focuses heavily on violence against women. I love Strike and Robin, though, so I’m always happy to spend time with them.
November is the busiest month of the year for me at work. Spending time looking at another screen to read my Kindle hasn’t been appealing so I’ve been catching up on magazines and my paper TBR pile. I have seriously burned out on contemporaries, especially when I am reading about heroines with bitchy friends, adolescent “funny” scenes, and countertop sexy times. Enough with the bodily fluids on the counters! I’ll put my soapbox aside and say I loved Primal Force by D.D. Ayres with its reluctant-to-have-another-dog hero and dog trainer heroine and the bit of suspense in the story. Sam, “the cheesedoodle” service dog stole my heart.
I’ve been hanging out in the 19th century for a few weeks and am currently reading I’ve Got My Duke to Keep Me Warm by Kelly Bowen. I read the second two books when they came out and realized I had missed the first. I have really enjoyed this series and heroes dealing with the strong women. The secondary characters are interesting and a few have unusual secondary professions. This week, I finished Only A Promise by Mary Balogh which I had put aside back in the summer and I usually glom her books. I had a hard time getting into the story until I got over the hero’s family, then, I loved the ending. Next up in the paper pile is Heartsong Cottage by Emily March as I dip my toe back into the 21st century and begin my holiday reading. With Thanksgiving week, I usually start reading almost exclusively holiday novels until the beginning of January. So, you’ll hear Christmas this and Holiday that from me for the next month or so.
I just finished Mind Magic by Eileen Wilks. This is the latest in her Lily Yu
World of the Lupi series and it was great. Good enough that I missed my stop on the subway, actually passed 3 on the way home on Thursday. My highest compliment to any author!
I am starting Risky Game by Tracy Solheim, and I want to thank the person who recommended her books because they have all been excellent so far.
Working my way through Nalini Singhs Archangels. I like them but not in love with them.
Also read Suddenly One Summer by Julie James. I don’t think it was as good as It Happened One Wedding, but that was an amazing book and this was merely very, very good.
I loved Heart Legacy by Robin D Owens, read it straight through release day and will do a reread on a level long travel day next week..
Also liked All I Want by Jill Shalvis, there was actual chemistry between the leads which I thought was lacking in her last few. This is one of the Animal ones.
Several somebodies here had recommended Elizabeth Essex (Almost a Scandal), and I resisted for quite a while because I’m cheap and it’s a pricier e-book at $7.99. But then I read it and holy cracktastic hero catnip, Batman! Apparently Ms. Essex and I like the exact same things in our Mr. Eventually, because I’ve now read four of the five books in this series and liked them all. The fourth – After the Scandal – might be one of my top five books this year.
Also have been reading the new Grace Burrowes as they come out, with varying success, and am eagerly, anxiously awaiting the next Maiden Lane installment (though really, who are we all kidding, we’re waiting for the Duke of Montgomery’s story next May)….