Whatcha Reading always seems to sneak up on us! You think your TBR is safe and then – BAM! – Whatcha Reading comes out! We all hope you’ve been enjoying some good books this month; definitely give us your recommendations in the comments. But if not, you’re always welcome to vent here about your latest frustrating read!
And if you’re in a slump, fingers cross that something in this post or in the comments will help get you out of it.
Carrie: I just started His Majesty’s Dragon ( A | BN | K | G | AB | Au ), which, shockingly, I have never read.
Redheadedgirl: What? No!
That’s can’t possibly be true.
Carrie: It is!
Amanda: I just picked up Done Dirt Cheap ( A | BN | K | AB ) from my library. I mentioned it on this month’s HYW and it’s “Sons of Anarchy meets Thelma & Louise.”
Then I think I’m going to do an Alice Clayton binge read to get to her latest in the Hudson Valley series – Buns!
Elyse: I just finished Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza ( A | BN | K | AB ). It’s a YA space opera with a seriously badass heroine. Also there’s a lot of world building packed into a relatively short book.
Amanda: Was it good? It’s on my nightstand.
Elyse: Yes!
I’d give it a B+. But there is a cliffie.
Amanda: I know people hate cliffhangers and they can be frustrating, but I kind of like them because it gives me a clear indication that there’s going to be another book and more great writing (assuming you enjoyed the writing in the first place).
Sarah: I’m reading CROWS!
CROWS CROWS CROWS.
Amanda: I think I might try the Crows series as my next audiobook. My library has it.
Sarah: The Unyielding!
It’s terrific fun – and I’ve read the first two twice and listened to them once. The audiobooks are pretty good.
Elyse: SARAH STAHP
Amanda: Oh, another thing I’m excited to read is Snotgirl, Vol. 1 ( A | BN | K | AB ). The art is gorgeous and I’ve been wanting to start the series for a while. The trade volume came out last month. It’s about a fashion blogger who creates this perfect persona online, but offline her life is kind of a mess.
And she has snot green hair!
Elyse: I want the new Crows book NOW!
Redheadedgirl: I just finished reading Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management (the 1861 version). Adulting guide for the 19th century! ( A | BN | K | AB )
And I’m reading Megan Frampton’s My Fair Duchess ( A | BN | K | AB ), which is a Pygmalion inspired historical, where the heroine unexpectedly becomes a Duchess in her own right (yes, that happened. rarely, but it happened), but has no idea how to Duchess, so the hero is sent by her godmother to help her learn the things she needs to know.
What about you? What are you reading lately? Anything you want to tell the whole wide internet about? Because you know we want to hear about it!
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!
Here are a few highlights from what I’ve read in the past month:
The Thing About Love by Julie James- I got an arc of this from the Penguin First to Read program. I really enjoyed it. It has the great banter you expect from James plus a nice plot involving the FBI undercover operation that the hero/heroine agents are involved in.
Madly by Ruthie Knox- I got an arc of this from Netgalley. Ruthie Knox has such a great voice. I especially enjoyed the sex bucket list Winston and Allie made. The way they dealt with their past relationship issues was refreshing. My only criticisms are that sometimes there felt like too much was happening and I actually would have liked an epilogue. I didn’t need a happily married with a baby on the way type of epilogue, but it would have been nice to have gotten a glimpse of how Winston and Allie made their relationship work since the logistics were left up in the air.
Pretty Face by Lucy Parker- Why aren’t there more romances with Gregory Peck lookalikes? Maybe there are and I just haven’t read them yet. I loved the characters and dialogue. The conflict was well-handled. It fell short of my love of Act Like It, but not by much.
Into the Fire by Jeaniene Frost- This one was fine; it was nice revisiting these characters. It didn’t quite work as well as most Frost books have for me. I think a lot of this was due to the fact that the time between the last book in the series and this one felt so long.
The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman- This continues to be a great series.
Cream of the Crop by Alice Clayton- I loved the heroine, the sense of place, the chemistry between the heroine and hero, and the tone. I could have used a little more development of the hero. I also never really felt like the relationship developed to be deeper than the insta-lust they had right from the start.
Right now I’m about to finally start Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas and then I have another arc from Penguin First to Read, The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick. I’m also impatiently waiting for my library to receive the new Patricia Briggs and Anne Bishop books. After those, I might actually get around to reading those Penny Reid and Sarina Bowen books I’ve been vowing to get to for months.
@Carrie – eeee! I hope you enjoy “His Majesty’s Dragon”!!!
I just realized I got a bunch of this month’s picks from the Smart Bitches community. Thanks guys, there were a lot of great ones!
Faves
– “Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches” by Audre Lorde – Oh man, this collection is *necessary* for today. For feminism, for intersectionality, for sharp, gorgeous writing.
– “Sex with Shakespeare: Here’s Much to Do with Pain, but More with Love” by Jillian Keenan – Do you like Shakespeare? Do you want to like Shakespeare? Do you like thoughtful books about women’s sexuality? Do you long for more thoughtful writing about bdsm? Read this. I cried reading this, I loved it so much.
– “The Perilous Gard” by Elizabeth Marie Pope – Tudor England and (terrifying) fairy folk. This was so good it reignited my love for YA and my love for Tudor fiction, which had been dead for quite some time. Plus, illustrations!
– “Peter Darling” by Austin Chant – a charming romance between Peter Pan, who is trans, and Hook. The evolving feelings are so well paced for 160 pages, and the worldbuilding, too! I want more fantasy romances from Chant, please!
– “His Bloody Project: Documents Relating to the Case of Roderick Macrae” by Graeme Macrae Burnet – Meta crime thriller in 1800’s Scottish Highlands. Claustrophobic and so, so good.
– “A Conjuring of Light” by V.E. Schwab – So, on Twitter, Schwab said this book was the end of *this* story, implying she may not be done with this world?? I so hope that’s true!!
– “Magic for Nothing” by Seanan McGuire – it’s FINALLY Antimony’s turn! The story went somewhere I wasn’t expecting, but I enjoyed it.
– “Anne of Green Gables” by L.M. Montgomery – I was terrified to read this because, aside from name recognition, I knew nothing about this series and was so scared I’d missed my window. I haven’t! It’s great!
Good
– “Margaret the First” by Danielle Dutton – a Woolfian novel about Margaret Cavendish, 17th Century sci-fi writer, philosopher, playwright, feminist. Weird, but beautiful.
– “Dragon Keeper” by Robin Hobb – not the strongest Hobb thus far, but a good series starter. I want good things for those dragons!
– “The Unseeing” by Anna Mazzola – historical crime thriller based on a real case. Dirty, dark 19th Century London, a murder, a confessed killer and a confessed accomplice, but are they REALLY? Very Sarah Waters-y.
– “Pretty Face” by Lucy Parker – I enjoyed a lot about this, but the constant attacks on her appearance bummed me out and just made me think of poor Marilyn Monroe.
– “Shards of Honor” by Lois McMaster Bujold (audiobook) – currently a selection on Amazon Prime’s audiobooks. Technically a reread. I loved this for Cordelia.
– “Blood Royal: A True Tale of Crime and Detection in Medieval Paris” by Eric Jager – in 1407, Louis of Orleans, brother of King Charles the Mad, was murdered in the street. Things did not go well after that.
– “Wintersong” by S. Jae-Jones – thought the first third, the most “Labyrinth” of the book, was the strongest, but once the romance started, the book straddled a weird line between YA and adult.
– “My Lady Jane” by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows – more Tudor YA! It’s weird! It’s funny! If you’ve enjoyed The Princess Bride and Ladyhawke, this could be the book for you.
– “Dissension” by Stacey Berg – Ah man, I wanted to like this more. Lesbians in a dystopian future? Yess. But the romance was barely there and the worldbuilding left a lot of holes.
Currently Reading
– “Stiletto” by Daniel O’Malley (audiobook) – I’m not sure audio was the best format for this, there is a lot of info dumping. That was a complaint leveled against “The Rook”, but there were story reasons there. Here, it’s just A LOT.
– “Queers Dig Time Lords: A Celebration of Doctor Who by the LGBTQ Fans Who Love It” edited by Sigrid Ellis & Michael Damian Thomas – I finally caught up with Twelve’s run this week and, as often happens, I’m in a love affair with the show, again. Last night I remembered I had this book sitting on my shelves, unread. It’s perfect reading for me. Oh! Anybody know any good Doctor Who podcasts?
I just finished The Song of Achilles and will have to move on something less heartbreaking for my next read. IT WAS SO GOOD BUT SO MANAY FEELS. I am also currently reading “The Silver Branch” by Rosemary Sutcliff, but I am not sure if I like it yet or not. I definitely liked “The Eagle of the Ninth” better.
I recently finished ‘A Lady’s Lesson in Scandal’ by Meredith Duran. I really enjoyed this one. If you like Pygmalion transformations, class differences, flawed but likeable characters, juicy, internal conflict, then I would recommend this book. There is a scene where the heroine, who was raised in a very poor and rough area of London, is trying to get a reaction out of the aristocratic hero by describing some of the horrible poverty she has endured. She tells him that it was so cold one winter, her step-brother “pissed himself to stay warm”. The hero doesn’t react to this and she gets annoyed. In a later scene she tells him something else she hopes will shock him. He replies, dry as kindling, “was that the same winter your step-brother pissed himself, then?” . This whole exchange was both funny and sad. The writing was layered and lovely, in my opinion.
I am currently reading ‘If I Only Had a Duke’ by Lenora Bell. It’s ok so far, I liked the exchange of letters at the beginning. It’s quite fun so far, although I am getting slightly annoyed with the constant use of food descriptions for the heroine’s hair. E.g. “Burnt butter curls”. At one point her hair colour is described as “orange marmalade on hot buttered scones”. And her complexion as “roses-and-clotted cream complexion”. I hope the author eases up on these types of descriptions as the story progresses. Will keep going as it is quite a fun read so far. The heroine at one point says ” you can’t just run around willy-nilly transforming near-spinsters into successes at whim” I feel this is almost breaking the fourth wall, in a very cheeky way. 😉
Oh man, I’m ready for this (pushes up glasses on nose, whips out cute little notebook with book notes).
I had a lot of “meh” reads and DNFs so I’ll stick with “the good” and skip the bad and the ugly.
In my desperate attempt to fill the Tessa Dare shaped hole in my heart I listened on audiobook to Eloisa James’ “Four Nights With the Duke” and “Three Weeks with Lady X.” She can be a hit or miss author for me, but I thought these were both really lovely and I don’t think I missed much by not reading the rest of the Desperate Duchesses first and I listened to these two out of order too. I feel so rebellious.
I read Lenora Bell’s “If I Only Had a Duke” and “How the Duke was Won” and I really enjoyed both of these a lot although they are light historicals and they’re not always super plausible (not identical twins, but almost identical half sisters because that happens), so if that’s not your thing, stay away! I’m looking forward to the next one.
I finished “Devil in Spring” by Lisa Kleypas and thought it was cute with some weird pacing issues at the end. I’m trying to catch up with “It Started in Autumn” right now, but I think I may not be the right reader for Lisa Kleypas. I feel like a bad romance fan, but there it is.
I’m currently listening to “Wedding of the Season” by Laura Lee Guhrke and really enjoying it. I want more Edwardian set romances!
I’m reading “Keeping the Distance” by Clarisse David (a YA set in modern day Philippines) and it’s very sweet and lighthearted.
So for non-romance reading. . .
I switched between reading and listening to “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah for my book club and really enjoyed it. It’s definitely more of a book of essays than a memoir, but he also has a very unusual (for an American audience) story to tell and I appreciated how he told it with humor and insight. Definitely a good book for discussions.
I finished the mysteries “Vita Brevis” by Ruth Downie and “Bryant and May – The Strange Tide” by Christopher Fowler. I read both of these more for the characters than the plot and they were really lovely. I’m not sure if there is much more room to grow the Ruth Downie series though, she keeps moving them from place to place. I’d love to see them in Carthage or Germania or Hispania. The Britannia setting is wonderful, but moving them back and forth to create drama is getting old.
I’m also reading “The Black Count” by Tom Reiss and enjoying it, but I haven’t gotten far yet.
And somewhere in there, I read “Uf*%k Your Habitat” by Rachel Hoffman. It’s filled with good advice! If only I was better about taking it. . .
I think that it’s been a couple of months since I commented on Whatcha Reading? but since I’m in the last month of my Masters degree, I haven’t had much time for fun-reading (and nobody except my professors wants to hear about the theology books I’ve been reading…)
I have finished a couple of books I heard about on SBTB:
Key Change by Barbara Valentin (mentioned in a podcast last summer) – loved it! As a church geek and musician, it hit a lot of right notes for me (pun intended).
How Not to Fall (Emily Foster) – I mostly loved it. I found the story totally immersive, but some of the plot development bothered me (when does control cross the line into abuse?). I thought that I was going to one-click the sequel, however it’s been a month since I finished this one and haven’t picked up the sequel yet. I probably will at some point, just not yet.
Truth or Beard (Penny Reid) – again, I mostly loved it, but found that some of the plot threads tied up a bit too easily and nicely for my liking. I picked this one up on Kindle when it was free and may look for the others in the series through the library but probably won’t buy them.
In the “non-romance-reading” side of things:
Bone and Bread (Saleema Nawaz) – I loved it – the story of two teenage sisters and how they deal with repeated tragedy. One develops an eating disorder while the other becomes pregnant, and they try to care for each other while barely able to care for themselves. It suffers from a bit of first-novel-itis (tidy plot twists and convenient coincidences), but I was deeply invested in the characters and what would happen to them.
Small Mechanics (Lorna Crozier) – this is a delightful book of poems that observe the little things in life. I was sorry that it was so short, and will probably pick up more collections by this poet.
@Jill Q – thank you for reminding me!
I also listened to the audio book of Three Weeks with Lady X (Eloisa James) on a long car drive. I picked it up, mostly because I love Susan Duerden, the reader of Eloisa James’ books (though Eloisa James can be hit-or-miss and I haven’t loved the other Desperate Duchesses books). I did enjoy this one and it made the 12 hours of driving in one weekend fly by.
I recently discovered an author named Ryan Graudin who swiftly become one of new favorites after I read her book BLOOD FOR BLOOD A sequel to another one of her books WOLF BY WOLF. These books must be read in order and come with a bunch of trigger warnings for violence, especially BLOOD FOR BLOOD which involves torture, but they’re really good. They are set in an alternate 1956 where the Nazis won WWII and follow Yael, a Jewish girl who was experimented on in a Nazi Death at a reallly young age , however she later escaped because the experiment gave her the ability to Skin swift which means she can change her appearance at will. However she was so young during the experiments that she doesn’t even remember what she looked like. Later she joins the rebellion and kicks all sorts of Nazi butt. Lastly the series’s ending is bittersweet, but rewarding and the writing style is unique and not for everyone , but I still recommend giving it a try.
After that I tried to read an Amanda Forrester , but I wasn’t really in the mood for her book, so I didn’t get passed the first few pages.
After that I picked up my current book called MAGIC OF BLOOD and SEA which is actually two books and a straight up fantasy romance with pirates. It’s not exactly deep, but it is a really fun read so far( I’m about halfway through the first book in it:THE ASSASSIN’S CURSE.
@Carrie, I haven’t read it either. *eyes about a dozen plushy dragons, that all seem to be suddenly looking at her* Yet.
Due to slumpiness, prepping for CampNaNo, and just life, I’ve been in the middle of three books for the last month.
The Wrath and the Dawn, by Renee Ahdieh. I’m not quite sure how I feel about this one. I get there’s certain things you need for a retelling of the frame story of The 1001 Nights, but it makes for a rather unlikable love interest.
The Devil in Spring, by Lisa Kleypas. I’m enjoying it, but it keeps ending up on the back burner, because it’s not a library book.
Death by Black Hole, by Neil deGrasse Tyson. (Audiobook) I like this, but since it’s a collection of essays, some information gets repeated a number of times more than necessary in a book. (I’d also prefer less digs at Pluto. )
I’ve got a couple of books I want to read this week. I have UNSEEN ACADEMICALS by Terry Pretchett and I should have THE SPITFIRE by Bertrice Small in the mail any day now. I also want go get through the coffee table books SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT: 50 YEARS OF BEAUTIFUL and THE PLAYBOY BOOK.
I’ve been reading some of the Immortal Iron Fist comics. I’m planning to binge the first few episodes of the Netflix series tonight.
Other than that, I haven’t had much time to read, so I’ve just been staring longingly at the books in my TBR pile, which include Deadly Silence by Rebecca Zanetti, You Don’t Know My Name by Kristen Orlando, and The Wrath of Con by Daniel Younger.
Thanks to mentions here, I’ve just read Flowers from the Storm. I realise it’s well-known, so all I need to say is I enjoyed it so much that I shall read it again, possibly quite soon. It was brilliant in several ways, (not least in its depiction of aphasia after cerebral haemorrhage) and I now have to look at all of Kinsale’s work. I also finished Tooth and Claw, Jo Walton’s dragon society-via-Trollope story, which was intriguing and compelling for the first half or so, but which then went rather flat. I may reread Framley Parsonage as a follow-up.
And a few weeks ago I enjoyed A Dangerous Madness by Michelle Diener. This is a mystery-romance tale set around the assassination of Prime Minister Spencer Perceval in 1812. I didn’t recall that we’d had a PM assassinated, but there was enough detail throughout the story that I kept thinking, ‘but this must be true’. It wasn’t until the end notes that Denier confirmed this was ‘the JFK assassination of its day’. Nicely written with a pleasant romance.
I discovered another author. M.C.A. Hogarth’s Earthrise is the first of a nice sci-fi series about space-ship adventures. There is what I think you’d call a ‘diverse’ crew. In fact it includes 4/5 different species. The heroine was a bit TSTL but overall I liked it.
I’m going very slowly through Krista Tippett’s Becoming Wise: An Enquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living, reading and thinking as I go. There are accounts of her sharing ideas with remarkable people, and each discussion points to further reading. Apparently each interview can be listened to online at onbeing.org
Moving up my TBR list is Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad, but I have a hankering for sci-fi and I’m tempted to reread Rosemary Kirstein’s Steerswoman books. I know if I start the first one that’ll be it. I shall have to read them all. 🙂
I just started a new job and am in my second trimester so mostly I’ve been sleeping during my reading time. However I was given a $10 case of books from half price books and have been working my way through alphabetically. They range from good to very bad.
My current audiobook is Forigner by CJ Cherryh
I’m also reading books about having and raising babies since that seems important too.
Just completed a book recommended in Time magazine, Days Without End by Sebastian Barry. Two men who met as homeless children move from friendship to love as they serve in the U.S. Army (first in the Indian Wars, later in the Civil War), cross-dress, and get married in front of a half-blind preacher, and take in an orphaned Indian girl as their daughter. There are highs and lows in their lives, but their love stays true. I hope everyone reads this book, I loved it so much!
Skies of Steel by Zoe Archer. Steampunk romance, badass women, understanding heroes. It is the third in The Ether Chronicles series which each book is alternatively written by Archer and her husband, Nico Rosso. They do a great job, especially with the characterization and world building.
Puppy Love by Kelly Moran. Found this on Tumblr where Kensington posted an excerpt which had me immediately pre-ordering the book. A few minor complaints about repetition and the mention of cat declawing (something no legitimate vet would do in this day and age), but still a great start to a series about small town vet brothers.
A Gentleman’s Position by K. J. Charles. I love a good m/m historical romance and Charles is definitely one of the best writers in that area. We finally see Cyprian get his happy pairing.
There is more, but these are the highlights.
I finally read Strong Poison, thanks to the romance in mysteries thread here. It had been on my list forever. I liked it, but frankly, it was no The Thin Man. The Thin Man is still the best. I need to re-read it again soon.
I hate series so much, I hesitate to even look at the first book. (I hate almost everything nowadays, so to hate a story AND have it be unfinished is grounds for nukes. At least have the decency to END the garbage, you know?) So if I’m persuaded to read a Book One Of Several (BOOS) and like it enough to be willing to read the next book, it’s the highest of compliments.
I finally got around to Daniel José Older’s Half Resurrection Blues, and immediately upon finishing, I paid almost full price (something else I hardly ever do) for the next book in the Bone Street Rumba series, Midnight Taxi Tango. Ghosts! Gremlins (sort of)! Problematic paranormal bureaucracy! Distinctive supporting characters! Romance! It has it all! I had previously read Salsa Nocturna, a collection of shorts set in the same world, and while shorts really never satisfy my craving for storytelling, the worldbuilding, the characters, and Older’s style made me want more, and I wasn’t disappointed at novel length.
While I’m only halfway through Rachel Caine’s Ink and Bone, it would have to take a bad turn of unfathomable proportions to lose my affection and put me off the next book. Another one with distinctive secondaries and excellent worldbuilding. Books! Libraries! Magic! More problematic bureaucracy! A morally ambiguous protagonist! A seemingly unfeeling professor type who rolls dice and/or maybe lets trainees die to thin the herd of job applicants! (I have a fondness. Snape. Elodin. Now Wolfe…) My birthday gift to me is gorging myself on lemon bars and the rest of this book, and probably splurging full price on the next one.
I read Playing with Fire by RJ Blain, and it is so much fun. Fast paced, hilarious paranormal romance, or as she calls it Magical Romantic Comedy with a body count. The world is interesting, the romance is satisfying, plot is action packed. It made me give her other books another try. I bought Shadowed Flame, which I loved too, even if it wasn’t funny. It was more Paranormal Romantic Suspense, hidden in the mystery and suspense category. *glares at RJ* I *think* all her Urban fantasy books have a romance subplot, though. I do recommend that you give her a try.
This…was not quite as bad a month for DNFs. I might be improving as a person. The only thing I DNFed was A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab, and that had more to do with the fact that as I get older, if I’m going to do a big doorstop fantasy with itty-bitty print, I probably need to do it in e-book. I’ll go back to it in e-book more than likely.
:::pulls up Goodreads, rubs hands together:::
Let’s see, we left off on Javelin Rain…
I finished His Forever Family by Sarah Anderson, which had good pacing and characters, and also some interesting things about race and class conflict. I did think it needed to be a bit longer, since I would have liked to see the actual adoption process and how it played out (probably easily, since we’re talking about a billionaire here and golden shears are great cutting red tape, but still). Javelin Rain, by the way, was reliably excellent, but I have to admit that toward the end, I kind of wanted to be done since I knew that I had Pretty Face by Lucy Parker waiting. I LOVED IT. I really did. I might be one of the few that felt like it was on pretty equal footing with Act Like It, just because I love that world (I don’t think the world-building of the London theater and TV scene is getting quite enough love, but I know why, it’s because we all love those characters so much), and the characters, and there is so much humor, and yet there’s an emotional gut punch, and then FEELS. Then I read Underground Airlines by Ben Winters, and…well. It was our book club pick for February. It had a great premise, basically, there was never an American Civil War, and slavery is still legal in four states (they call them The Hard Four). There was some amazing world-building touches, such as the effects that it has on politics and commerce; the US economy both benefits and suffers, and the economy in those states does amazingly well, since as was pointed out in Hamilton, “your debts are paid ’cause you don’t pay for labor”, but there are countries that refuse to trade with the US, and companies have to play shell games to conceal the business interests they have in those states from anti-slavery consumers. The characterization was on point too, in regards to the main character. There are aspects that didn’t work though. I didn’t care about the young female character that was trying to find her son’s father, who had been an escaped slave that was recaptured and taken back to The Hard Four. She was not well-developed at all, and the sections that she involved in completely disrupted the pacing. The there was the end. Remember how The Sopranos ended? Same problem. However, I finished it the day that The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas came out. I was going to save it, I really was. Then I read the first page, and that was that. Read the whole thing in about 2 days, since it was the middle of the work week, and I did have to work (there was a lot of glancing covetously at my iPad waiting for the next time I could get back in there). It was emotional, furious, funny (the father’s explanation of how Harry Potter is about gangstas killed me and was also COMPLETELY valid), and should be handed out on streets, in schools, in community centers, in libraries, in police stations…everywhere. I am ready for whatever Angie Thomas writes next. Then I read The Saint by Monica McCarty, which had a great concept and while I liked the characters, I needed the heroine to be somewhat less whiny and the hero to use his damn words already. I can deal with some conflict related to misunderstanding, but eventually, enough already, use your words. While sitting in a bookstore waiting for my daughter to get done at a birthday party, I read Wild Card by Jim Butcher, Mark Powers, and Charles Gomez. It was good, but it reminded me how ready I am for Dresden’s next adventure. After that I read Accidentally On Purpose by Jill Shalvis. I think I needed a bit more of Archer and Elle being competent, and I didn’t feel like they liked each other at all for most of the book. Finally, and thanks to my car getting a flat and my not having a spare, I had nothing but time to read Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham, which is a historical mystery going between present day Tulsa and the 1921 Tulsa race riots. The discussion of why I had never even heard of the Tulsa 1921 race riots is a conversation for another day, but I’m pretty sure it will be long and involve the American education system and its reluctance to discuss the more shameful aspects of our history. It was excellent. Just really, really excellent. I read it in one day, and not just because I had nothing but time while waiting on tow trucks and tires. All the stuff I said about The Hate U Give also applies to this one, and would read well together if you wanted a substantive discussion of both historical and current race relations in our country. I’m starting A Study In Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro today, because updated Sherlock stories are like crack to me (this one involves Charlotte Holmes and James Watson, and they’re descended from exactly who they seem to be). I’ve been saving it and I think spring break is the perfect time.
Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians and China Rich Girlfriend audiobooks have kept me busy. Romance, intrigue, gossip, luxury Lifestyle, all in a fairly different Setting make for an interesting storyline that had me do extra chores in the kitchen as an excuse to Keep on listening. Bonus: the accents and slang words used in the audiobook. Check them out!
I’m sorry.
Are we just going to let Buns sit out there without comment?
Buns! What is Buns?! Have I missed out on some kind of massive Buns fandom that takes the existence of the book Buns for granted?
Am I more confused and delighted by Buns than I will be after coffee?? (Maybe.)
SOMEBODY EXPLAIN THIS BUNS BUSINESS PLZ.
I was a huge fan of the TV show Pitch, so when I heard there was a YA novel coming out about the first woman drafted into the Pros, I was all over it. A Season of Daring Greatly by Ellen Emerson White was everything I was hoping for. I loved that the heroine was not just physically and mentally tough, but that she was also incredibly intelligent. In fact, most of the characters were very smart, which I thought was great to see in a book set in professional sports. A lot of research went into the baseball aspects of the story and it felt almost like a behind-the-scenes look at at how players get started. I am hoping this book is the beginning of a series because I absolutely did not want it to end!
Reading JoJo Moyes “The Ship of Brides.” Found the reference here? 2005. Post-WWII Australian brides of English soldiers journeying on a ship to England. We’re following 4 brides. Enjoying it. All kinds of catnip here. Just finished the latest Hugh de Singleton 14th century surgeon mystery, “Lucifer’s Harvest,” 9th in the series by Mel Starr. Well-researched and a romance along the way.
@Ren Benton: Sing it, sister! Well, except I like series, but I hate everything lately and your post and book choices show you are clearly my kind of people.
I had some surprises this month, really good ones.
Joe Zieja’s MECHANICAL FAILURE had the best cover, title and blurb, but the main character seemed to be swimming in stupid; think THREE KINGS (the movie) in a military space opera. Until the halfway point when, omg, he gets his act together and the story really takes off. Talk about character growth and outstanding secondary characters. I loved it and am eager for the next.
KINGS OF THE WYLD (The Band) by Nicholas Eames is a fantasy novel based on the premise of heroes/mercenaries as rock stars. The greatest band of all time was Saga. Now they’re retired, older and gray, but the daughter of one is in trouble. Will the band get back together–putting aside old grudges and infirmities–to help her? This is not at all a damsel in distress story; the women are equally heroic and complex. What made this book so much more than a fantasy road trip was its tremendous heart. These characters love, fight, breathe, drink and care so much. I’m ready to read it again.
It has been a really good reading month for me so far.
I reread Persuasion by Jane Austen. It has been a few years since I read it the first time and it was just as enjoyable this time.
Next was The Traitor in the Tunnel by YS Lee. This is the third in her Agency series featuring Mary Quinn, who is an agent in Victorian London for Mrs Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls. She is also half Chinese and half Irish which is interesting to read about. I enjoy this series for both the setting and characters.
Next was Illuminae by Amie Kauffman and Jay Kristoff. This is young adult sci fi and all I knew about this book was the two main characters broke up before their planet was destroyed and that the story is told through emails, documents and texts. That is all I think you should know to enjoy this story. It was so surprising, amazing and at times heartbreaking. I really loved it and can’t wait to read the next book! Trigger warning for violence but not too graphic.
Next was The Game and the Governess by Kate Noble. I enjoyed the heroine but the hero got on my nerves at times. I thought the setting was interesting and I enjoyed most of the secondary characters especially the Earls valet Danson, who thinks the entire wager is ridiculous but still does his job and helps the heroine Phoebe. Did not enjoy this one as much as her novel The Summer of You but am interested to continue on with the series.
Am currently reading A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas and LOVING it! This is the gender flipped Sherlock Holmes and so far it is as good as everyone said it would be.
*The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. Even if you don’t like the Star Trek episodes that are more about diversity and linguistics, even if you never watched an episode of Firefly, even if you think Sci Fi is a thing you don’t like, I am here to say give this book a chance. It’s just wonderful. Full of friendship and loyalty and being super chill about gender and sexuality and cultural differences with a kind of open hearted curiosity.
* Love Comes Later by Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar: I enjoyed learning about Muslim life and culture in Qatar, but the concerns or reservations I had about the developing romance overshadowed my feelings about the book as a whole.
* His Road Home by Anna Richland: This was a lovely romance from start to finish. Rey Cruz is a medic in the special forces, Grace Kim is a marine biologist. There’s an engagement of convenience of sorts and how it all plays out is just sigh worthy.
*Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan: Coming of Age YA for the win!
*Gays of Our Lives by Kris Ripper: While I usually shy away from *anything* related to BDSM, what I found touching was that the hero has MS. He navigates a chronic illness and pain, dealing with his career, self-image, and a new love interest (such a sweet guy) and I thought the author handled this with skill and sensitivity.
*Seven Minutes in Heaven by Eloisa James: Sometimes I just need the mix of froth, sweetness, humor, and sass that James delivers.
* Soul Scars by Tasman Gibb: Pitbulls as service dogs for veterans with PTSD and I am so there for that. Not an easy read at many points but books with dogs (and the dogs are safe) are my … what’s the doggy equivalent of catnip?
*Unlikely Praise by Carla Rossi: Such a wonderful glimpse into a world that is unfamiliar to me. There’s a nerdy, control freak music teacher and tattooed ex rock star and a band at a church. Guess who starts falling for each other? Really good writing.
Indiscreet by Mary Balogh: I love how Balogh writes about characters truly changing — it always feels believable and organic.
@Darlynne: I thought I had to be reading your description of Kings of the Wyld wrong because all I could imagine was crime-fighting KISS or Dethklok, which couldn’t possibly be.
The cover looks like standard sword-and-shield stuff, and while the official description mentions a band, the way it’s used COULD just refer to the mercenary group…
First review title: “Swords, Sorcery, and Rock and Roll!”
*blinks*
Guess that’ll be jumping in my pile, too!
After what feels like a slog, I’ve managed to get to my last library book. It’s a historical nonfiction called “Empress Dowager Cixi” by Jung Chang. About the life and career of the woman who worked so hard to open and modernize China.
For a while I thought I would like to take a reading break, but I recently loaded up my Kindle with book samples and the most recent order of books from Thriftbooks came in. I ha a tendency to collect books on improving my understanding of Tarot, but then getting distracted by other books. So, I’m gonna sit down and go through them all… she said with the same blind optimism she’d had so many times before.
I spent most of the last two months getting ready to move and moving so my reading has been scattered. Though I have had the joy of rediscovering older to-read piles and favorites to reread, and a new library system to explore.
The ones that I’ve read and really loved were The Starlit Wood, which is a wonderful anthology that retells fairy tales and goes in some unusual directions. Its also a beautiful book.
Goldenhand by Garth Nix, the newest book in the Abhorsen cycle that made me so happy. Technically this is a YA fantasy series but its one of the best fantasy series I know. This book felt like the next step that I’ve been wanting and made me incredibly happy.
Pairing Off by Elizabeth Harmon who is becoming one of my new favorite authors. I enjoyed this one a lot, it gave me The Cutting Edge feels and reminded me of living abroad myself. I have her newest one on my phone to read at some point.
I’ve also read a couple of romances which I’ve liked with varying degrees. Passion Favors the Bold by Theresa Romain which was a good read but not as strong as her other books. A Talent for Trickery by Alissa Johnson which was a wonderful surprise and I want to read more of her books. Some Like it Wicked which was a mix for me as I enjoyed a lot of it but then it went and leaned hard on some tropes and pulled me out of it, also I wanted more of the secondary romance.
Now I’m reading a number of various books and not quite getting into any of them of them fully. A Nuclear Family Vacation which is two journalists visiting various nuclear sites and talking about history. Its well written but one of those books that I sort of dip in and out of. The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps which is another that’s not fully pulling me in, something about the writing style means that I’m not finding it easy to keep a sense of the order everything happens in mind. Beauty and the Rake by Erica Monroe which is a lot darker than I was expecting but I’m enjoying it, I just have to take breaks. It reminds me of the Alissa Johnson in terms of looking at the dark side of London and not shying away but Monroe has more cant and violence. Dead Man’s Hand, an anthology of fantasy western stories that I picked up for one story and is also not fully working for me, so much darkness.
@KateB There are a ton of Doctor Who podcasts — depends on what your focus is, if you want more new or Classic Who. The two I like:
Verity! podcast run by six women: https://veritypodcast.wordpress.com/
Radio Free Skaro: http://www.radiofreeskaro.com/
Reading has been a weird mix this year.
I read Gwenda Bond’s Girl Over Paris comic book, since I had all the digital issues. I liked it, but I think I would have clicked more with the characters if I’d read Girl on a Wire first.
Australia’s Twelfth Planet Press releases a set of short story collections by female writers. I read Rosaleen Love’s “Secret Lives of Books” which convinced me “you can’t take it with you” is maybe sage advice for book hoarders.
I checked out Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s ” Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions” essay on International Women’s Day, which felt very timely. She wrote a letter to a friend that had had a daughter and wondered how to raise her feminist. Adichie gave some of her ideas, mixing with specific examples from their friendship.
I’ve finished a couple of episodes of Serial Box’s Witch Who Came in From the Cold, their 1970s Le Carre meets magic in Prague series. I’ve been betaing their Android app so it’s been good for picking it up again. Also first episode in the Charles II “Whitehall” series.
@Hazel: Ditto on the ‘Flowers from the storm’ love. I also loved ‘seize the fire’, & ‘the shadow and the star’.
@Tiffany: congrats!
@Mikaela: I’ve added ‘playing with fire’ to my to-read list. Although, it’s only £1.99 on kindle so I’m tempted to buy it now. Must.Resist.Yellow button!
@MollyO: I really want to read ‘ A study in scarlet women’, but I’m waiting for it to go on sale. The kindle version is £7.99. Yikes!
For someone who has had a rather slow reading year as of last year and didn’t read as many books as I meant, and was beginning to think that would be my normal speed for awhile, this month was rather interesting in that I began three pretty big books. I think the update which now allows my screen reader to read a Kindle book and to not force me to use the Kindle app’s self-voicing options on my computer had something to do with it. I’ll start off with my nonfiction recommendation the subject of which I’m surprised to not see any coverage from the bitchery. If any of you are not watching the new TV series on the Feud between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford starring Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange, run don’t walk to catch up. Because of this, I have begun the book called Divine Feude by Sean Concidine on the same subject, and it’s a pretty quick breezy read in spite of it’s length of over 400 pages. My other recommendation is a book which takes place in two parallel time periods, early 1990’s and early 1940’s called a Moment Forever by Cat Gardiner. While the setup might seem predictable, young woman inherits house from mysterious family member, the book deals with some pretty heavy themes which mainly include prejudice of various kinds such as ableism and anti-Semitism and since the later timeline is the early 1990’s it almost makes it seem like a double historical since the main character can’t use the internet like family researchers would in the 21st century. The last book I started tis month is a rerelease of a 1980’s historical called Fires of Destiny by Linda Barlow. In this one, the main character’s are old friends, but he’s come back from galavanting around the world just in time for his brother,to whom she was to be wed to be murdered, and since he’s the second in line, people think he didn it. It’s set in the time of Mary Tudor, which is a part of the plot I’m really enjoying. I’ll be doing some additional paid work outside of my regular job, so my pace may still slow down, but at least I’ll be good on reading material for awhile, since I’m still working on all these titles and a couple which are part of series I began last year and the beginning of this year.
Gosh, it’s that time again!
I’ve done a little rereading, just looking for that certain feeling I get from my faves. I reread Lick by Kylie Scott (I love that whole series, and can’t wait for the new Dive Bar book in April). I also reread Ride With Me by Ruthie Knox because I’m obsessed with road trips right now. Must be cabin fever.
I binge-read L.H. Cosway’s Hearts series. I discovered her through Penny Reid (they co-write the Rugby series), and I’ve been hungering for bits of Ireland since my trip there last summer. Cosway is a bit grittier than Reid, and their books together are a nice amalgam of their individual writing styles.
I discovered M.E. Carter through Penny Reid’s Sharks of Awesome and read FriendTrip and WeddedBliss. These are great because the friendship between the women in the two romantic couples is the primary focus. I do love me some strong female friendships!
And now I’m feeling a bit fragmented, so I’m simultaneously reading Yes, Please by Amy Poehler, Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover (so good!), and Girls and Sex by Peggy Ornstein (because I feel like I’m out of touch with regard to what’s happening with girls and young women these days, and I have a 14yo daughter I need to understand and communicate with). And I have Grunt by Mary Roach on my TBR because Mary Roach. ‘Nuff said.
All in all, not a bad month!
@julia – thanks! I’ll check out both. I am a Nu Who person (Ten is my Doctor), but my fannish personality means I dig myself into things, so I have watched some Classic Who.
I just finished “Step By Step” by KC Wells. Contemporary m/m romance. Loved the main couple, and the book got me wanting to read older hero/age gap romances. However, found the portrayal of Ryan, the bi friend, stereotypical – poly, has bf and gf at same time, thinks people aren’t meant to be monogamous. Also found some bi erasure going with older hero’s insistance on calling his exes “straight” – everyone is straight or gay only.
But it got me started on “September” by Robert Winter – heroes have a 22 year age gap.
Before that, I reread some books to get out of a slump: “Sofia Khan is Not Obliged” (because sequel coming out in April) and “Memoirs of a Geisha” (because I watched the movie).
Coming back to say that the author of the first book I recommended is Shaun Considine. I didn’t have it correct.
I’ve been reading Jane Austen’s England, which I think was recently reviewed here. I’m really enjoying it – I much prefer daily life histories to big picture political ones – but it’s temporarily ruining historical romance for me. I reread Eloisa James’ When Beauty Tamed the Beast and had trouble getting into Beautiful Fantasy Regency England when Actually Pretty Horrible Real Regency England was so fresh in my mind.
I’ve been having better luck with urban fantasy, catching up on the last few remaining Kate Daniels’ books and starting Patricia Brigg’s Alpha and Omega series. While nothing can compare to Briggs’ Mercy Thompson books, the A&O series is enjoyable.
I tried to read The Wall of Winnipeg and Me, but the central premise annoyed me (the heroine could not possibly have borrowed $200k for college without a cosigner), and the 4th (FOURTH!) time I saw the word “past” written as “passed”, I quit.
In looking over my digital orders, it looks as if I ordered every free game that will play on an Android phone – may need to rethink my password.
However, what I read:
Just finished re-reading Mary Stewart’s The Ivy Tree. It does stand up. She’s a great writer. Even knowing the twist, every word is right in its place.
The Do-Gooder by Jessie Star. YA, some drama indeed but I enjoyed it a fair bit. The characters showed growth and it held my interest. (recommended here IIRC)
King’s Captive by Amber Bardon (recommended here) Definite twist ending. Several twists, in fact. Did keep my interest.
Re-read Exposure by Evelyn Anthony. She has good women characters, some of the attitudes may be a little dated, but I do enjoy her stories.
Wake of Vultures (also recommended here) was very good in the Western -is it wood punk? -way. Fun. Sounded very much as if it is headed for a sequel which I feel sure I will read.
Finally read Nalini Singh’s Slave to Sensation. Better than I expected, some political undertones or is that just the current climate causing me to over-read?
Re-read Courtney Milan’s Hold Me. Sent her a fan girl email and she replied (fanning myself).
Re-read Heyer’s Devil’s Cub. Continue to love it. And, may I add, I have been in love with Avon since I was 19 and I don’t mind seeing him age as he seems to do it well.
Now starting to re-read Nora’s The Obsession. Huge comfort read for me. Her writing in the opening two chapters is exquisite. The rest of the book is total competency porn for me.
I recently read The Lawrence Browne Affair, Cat Sebastian’s follow up to the wonderful The Soldier’s Scoundrel, but the sequel disappointed me. It was just the stereotypical done-to-death beauty and the beast tale with the poor but beautiful heroine soothing the scarred/mad/tortured/shunned hero, except the heroine was a guy.
I had better luck with Claiming Mr Kemp by Emily Larkin, after being disappointed by the first book in that series (CMK is the fourth book; I’m a shameless cherry picker). This book had a disconcerting start but ended up a very emotional read. One of the characters has to overcome fears about acknowledging his homosexuality that struck me as authentic to the Regency era.
And I listened to Heyer’s Arabella on audiobook, only my second one after The Grand Sophy, which I preferred. I’ve decided to seek out the Heyers that are known for their humour, since it’s the language rather than the romance that appeals to me most about her books.
The next audiobook I have lined up is Stella Riley’s A Splendid Defiance. I struggle to find the right combination of story and narrator to listen to but I’m really looking forward to this one. Real historical romance, about real history!
I wish Mary Stewart’s books were available on audible….
@Carrie: I tried sooo hard to read His Majesty’s Dragon. I had at least 2 paperback copies (I’d forget I already owned it and pick it up again), and 2 ebook copies (bought a bundle, forgot, and bought the standalone). I even had most of the rest of the series. I kept telling myself that it should be just my thing–Napoleonic Wars, naval heroes, dragons!–but I just couldn’t get into it. But I wasn’t going to give up, so I tried the audio book. Shazam! It was everything I hoped it would be, and proceeded to glom the rest of the available books. I even liked the books that other people found problematic. Simon Vance’s narration was wonderful and I often say Temeraire’s little “Oh” in the various inflections he used. Now I want to buy all the books in paper again–since I ended up finally just giving away my old copies. Anyway, I hope you enjoy HMD as much as I did (but will understand if you don’t).
Whew.
I read Patricia Briggs’s Silence Fallen and Anne Bishop’s Etched in Bone with much anticipation. Normally, with both authors, I want to immediately reread and/or listen to their books, but I wasn’t in a rush this time. I didn’t hate them, but neither was particularly memorable for me. (I will listen eventually.) I also didn’t think they moved their respective story arcs forward enough. Especially so with the Briggs, but maybe I feel that way because the Bishop books already move at a glacial pace.
I’ve also been reading cozy mysteries and Liaden books (can’t wait for the new Liaden book this spring).
I’ve also been listening to the Liaden books, as well as Robb’s In Death series. Currently, I’m listening to Anne McCaffrey’s Freedom series. I devoured some of her other series back in the day, but not this one for some reason. TBH, I didn’t even remember it when I saw the books on Audible. I’m on the second of the four books right now and, so far, they’re OK, if not among my faves. Probably in the B- range, but the odd narration may account for some of my lack of enthusiasm.
Now I’m off to read everyone else’s comments and see how many books I end up buying!
I recently read Weird and Wonderful by Cece Barlow, a young adult coming of age with some romance and a lot of humor. I didn’t love it quite as much as Plumb Crazy by the same author, but it was definitely enjoyable, and also interesting to see a main character from a very religious household (although she’s breaking away from that and wants to be an anime voice over artist).