It’s that time again! The time where we all talk about the things we’ve been reading and try not to blow our book budget in one sitting. Some months are tougher than others. Here’s hoping this one isn’t too strenuous on your wallet!
Sarah: Currently I’m still listening to Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens ( A | BN | K | G | AB | Au ), which I’ve read a few thousand times but the audiobook, as I have told many people, is making me very happy.
But alas, in terms of reading and not listening, I’m between books at the moment, so I’m curious what you are all reading.
Redheadedgirl: I am reading The Odyssey, in a new translation by Emily Wilson ( A | BN | K | AB ). It’s the first full translation into English done by a woman and it is FASCINATING.
She talks into the introduction about how the translator will change how a work reads – there’s not really any such thing as a “faithful translation,” especially when it comes to concepts from thousands of years ago. And the challenges of making something that was conceived as an oral piece into a written piece.
And at NECRWA I made a point of looking for authors at the book signing that were new to me, so I picked up a copy of Elizabeth Cole’s A Heartless Design, which is the first book in her Regency spy series.
Carrie: I am madly binging on comic books to get ready for BayCon. Catching up on trades of Ms. Marvel ( A ), Moon Girl and Dinosaur ( A ), and Sex Criminals.
Elyse: I just got new yarn so I’m listening to more audio. I’ve been listening to Pretend You’re Safe by Alexandra Ivy which is delightfully creepy ( A | BN | K | G | AB ).
Amanda: We discussed this at RT and at SBTB HQ about what our brains want and my brain wants more Anne Bishop, so I’m continuing with my read of The Others series. I’m on Vision in Silver ( A | BN | K | G | AB ), so no spoilers!
I’m in such fantasy/scifi kick lately and I’m going to continue with The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang. I’ve heard the second half of the book is very graphic; just a warning for those interested.
Did you read anything great this month? Or are there any reading experiences you just need to get off your chest? Tell us all 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, we greatly appreciate it, 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!
::::slinks to Face to Face by Siouxsie and the Banshees:::
Whereas I read A LOT in April, it was less so in May. Not sure, why, but I’m guessing stress. I DNFed at least two books, but have had some success with audiobooks. When it comes to fiction, I prefer an audiobook that I’ve already read (all the perks of rereading with the added bonus of still experiencing the story in a new way). So I revisited The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (still excellent, and I am really excited for October 19th, 2018) and am currently listening to The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare (a worthy companion piece to seeing Deadpool 2, actually).
Let’s see, I left off with Hot and Badgered by Shelly Laurenston, which, predictably, I loved. Then there were two DNFs in quick succession, at which point I read the script book to Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. Then, I read Wonder Woman by Leigh Bardugo, and enjoyed it, and hits you in just the same place that the Wonder Woman movie did (which is odd, since timing would dictate that it was written before the release of the movie, now that I think about it). It was so very fun. The scene where an idiot on the subway tries to accost Diana was hilarious. After that, I read Wanted: A Gentleman by K.J. Charles, which was a bit odd for me, since I found the background of Martin and his prior life and the progression of the chase more interesting than the development of the relationship between Martin and Theo. Once done with that, I went ahead and started Transfer of Power by Vince Flynn, which I enjoyed, although it took me awhile. I loved the spycraft and political stuff, and Mitch Rapp is a great character, but it was so detailed that it took me forever to read. There were also a few weird little phrases and pacing missteps, which I pass off to “first book syndrome” (I think ToP was Flynn’s first book), and I’m willing to bet, like most writers, he got better as he went on. My dad has been mowing through the series, and keeps passing the books to me, so he got to enjoy an irate text about how I deeply wanted Mitch to shank one uber-douchey character and then walk off whistling about how much safer he made the country by doing so.
Ugh. I posted that without mentioning what I’m currently reading. I’m currently reacquainting myself with Flavia de Luce and am reading I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley. I love that poison-minded little minx.
I finally picked up Loretta Chase’s Carsington books – I’d snagged books 1-3 some little time ago and dropped them in my TBR collection and forgot about them until the other week. I enjoyed the first, “Miss Wonderful” with a younger son as a fabulous hero – no duke needed! – then proceeded promptly to the second book in the series, “Mr. Impossible”, and fell head over heels in love with it. The story (which struck me as a homage to the Amelia Peabody books & The Mummy movies (with Weisz) lacking magic/horror and in a Regency setting was just SO MUCH FUN!
I then raced through the third of the Carsington books, “Lord Perfect”, which wasn’t quite as engrossing but inspired me to look for the remaining books. #5 was a one-click insta-buy – “Last Night’s Scandal”. This features two of the supporting characters from “Lord Perfect” and a shout-out to the leads from “Mr. Impossible” – and it was everything fabulous. So worthwhile!
On my nook, I just finished readying Grumpy Fake Boyfriend by Jackie Lau (thanks, Bitches) and enjoyed it. It was fun and cute and things made sense. It had some of the tried and true tropes, such as fake relationship and best friend’s sister. It also had a smart and very introverted man, a woman with agency who owned her sexuality, and great diversity that is not emphasized at all, just part of the story.
I re-read Shattered by Dick Francis. I liked the glassblowing part of it but it is not his greatest. A good read, still. And the police office is a woman and is the romantic interest.
I read Open Season by Linda Howard. I got it without realizing it was set in the American South as I really don’t like to read stories set there. I got far enough in to realize the setting and was all, OK, stopping now. But I wanted to see what happened so I read just a little further, and then a little further. Yep, it dragged me along, I could not help myself, and I did enjoy it.
Borrowed Dreams by May McGoldrick was OK. A decent story and, yet, I didn’t really feel I connected with the H/h and their romance.
I also re-read Marked in Flesh and Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop. These are the last of her Others series though there is another book in this universe that I am planning to buy, hence the re-read. I enjoy the series and I think the last one may be the best written.
Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee, adventure! Fun! Can’t wait to read Felicity’s story next. I also was a bit disappointed in The Henchmen of Zenda, because her other books ar soo good.
I am about half-way through What a Difference a Duke Makes by Lenora Bell, the Mary Poppins-ish story, and what I needed to be reading right now. Even though I am guessing the language and actions of the Duke and the governess are not particularly accurate for the time, their story is helping a bad work week go down. (Like a spoon full of sugar.)
Earlier in the week, I finished Hamilton’s Battalion which I thoroughly enjoyed for both the characters and stories. I appreciated the research as my husband reads extensively about the Founding Fathers. Alexander Hamilton is much discussed around here. Mr. L is one of those embarrassing guys at Monticello or in Philadelphia, just saying.
Also of note was Someone to Care by Mary Balogh with its runaway couple. I plan to read the Westcott series from the beginning after that gem and have Someone to Love in my TBR file. My only contemporary read lately was a good one … Bittersweet by Sarina Bowen. I loved grumpy Griff and his family and friends!
Next up is the No Dukes Allowed trilogy. I hope the library comes through with this year’s Mary Kay Andrews beach book, The High Tide Club, soon. I plan to spend time on the front porch with both and a little Firefly iced tea.
I’m reading Emily Wilson’s translation too – I really wish there was an audiobook version, preferably read by a woman. There seems to be an audiobook version for most books these days, but not this one which is based on an oral poem 🙁
Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee, adventure! Fun! Can’t wait to read Felicity’s story next. I also was a bit disappointed in The Henchmen of Zenda, because her other books are soo good.
@Francesca & @DonnaMarie – Angela Lansbury was fabulous and I agree about Meg. I think it’s because her arc is a little harder to translate to modern audiences, in that Brooke comes across as unsympathetic and Marmee’s marriage advice is …rough. BUT, I think a lot of what she goes through as a young wife and mother of twins, dealing with a tight budget and all, is a universal struggle and deserves attention. I think the miniseries was great if you’re looking for a near scene by scene adaptation, which as a *huge* LITTLE WOMEN fan, I was happy to see (we never get to see Jo & Beth by the sea, for example), but as a miniseries, I think it dragged a little. I think the 1994 adaptation is my favorite overall.
– @Heather C – It’s a sweet read, and I think, if you’ve read some of her other work in that universe, you’ll enjoy the development of Channing.
– @CelineB – I hope you enjoy DREAD NATION! I could not stop listening, it just carried me along with it!
– @Scene Stealer – I went into laughing, halfway through, was like, WHY DO I CARE SO MUCH? and by the end, my heart was on the floor.
– @Giddypony – Your catnip is my catnip 100%! Here’s my GoodReads. I track my reading and rating religiously, but review only when the spirit takes me. Let’s be bookfriends!
goodreads.com/KiloTangoBravo
Wallet Warning: These are series. As in more than three books per entry.
– Naomi Novik, Temeraire series:
I’d loved Novik’s “Uprooted” and finally decided to try “Her Majesty’s Dragon”. And now I can finally articulate two of the things I was delightfully surprised to find in “Uprooted” as “Her Majesty’s Dragon” also has them. First: complex and diverse parent-child relationships. Every parent-child pair presented has their own way of relating to each other. As it is in real life. Second: friends who love one another. I don’t mean in the “friends-to-lovers” sense (though it might develop), but in the “I’ll read aloud to you Pascal’s mathematical treatsies in the original French. Just don’t ask me to explain it because I don’t understand math and I barely speak French.” This is an actual thing that happens between the human handler and his dragon (books aren’t sized for dragons). I am already onto “The Jade Throne”.
– Charles Stross, The Merchant Princes series:
It’s taken me a hell of a long time, but I’m finally finishing the first book, “The Bloodline Feud”. It’s totally worth the time, but it’s too rich in plot (if that makes any sense).
The shortest description I can come up with (it’s a really big book) is:
On the day she gets fired for being too good an investigative journalist, Miriam ends up in a parallel world. She soon discovers that she was born there, and got lost as a baby. In this parallel feudal world, she is a Countess, with family and riches.
The problem? All Miriam wants is to get back to her job, so she can expose her former bosses. But her rediscovered family won’t leave her alone, and she has too much of a conscience to abandon an entire world to their feudal ignorance.
That alone would be enough of a plot. Add in the history of this parallel world, centuries of history of a family of worldwalkers, how the family got rich using the worldwalking ability, alternatives ways to profit from worldwalking, the feud that is the reason why Miriam got lost as a baby, and political and economic discussion of high quality.
And this is Book One. Of Three. (“The Traders’ War” and “The Revolution Trade”) And there’s a sequel trilogy!
I am reading Bride of Pendorric , Kushiel’s Dart and a modern YA retelling of Beauty and the Beast that I can’t rember the title of. So far , I really like them all.
Very much enjoyed The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, by Mackenzi Lee, and looking forward to sister Felicity’s book. A bit disappointed also in The Henchmen of Zenda- but the bar is very high for KJ Charles.
@Katie C – I haven’t read them, and SCORE my library system has them, so they’re going on my TBR! Thanks!
I feel like I haven’t read all that much this month and everything I read just seemed kind of ‘meh’.
–A Love Letter to Whiskey by Kandi Steiner. I read this book because everybody mentions how angsty it is. I liked it but it seemed kind of a let down because it was angsty but mainly because the main characters seemed really immature.
–I got an ARC of Ocean Light by Nalini Singh. Again, I liked it but I didn’t love it compared to last year’s Silver Silence.
–Death Doesn’t Bargain by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Part of me feels like I should just give up on her books but I won’t. She needs to finally write the books for the characters people want, like Nick and Savitar.
–Smut by Karina Halle. 1st time reading her books. I liked the book and the banter between the characters but the last half of the book seemed to drag.
–Love a Little Sideways by Shannon Stacey. Little Sister/Best friend trope. Again just ok.
Cheater by Rachel Van Dyken. I loved this one. Years ago hero is engaged to be married but is in love with the little sister. Gets drunk night before wedding and ends up in bed with a completely different sister. Decides after that to never commit and ends up with a girl for every night of the week (except for Sunday). I haven’t been reading RVD for very long but she writes great characters and banter and has turned into an auto buy for me.
@AmyS From what I understand, Nick and Savitar are in the pipe. I can’t quite remember how far down they are. Personally, I prefer the early DH books, but am totally looking forward to STYGIAN later this summer. I really like her League books, though.
I finally started Romancing The Duke, by Tessa Dare. I’m enjoying the two main characters, but almost five chapters in is a bit too much to spend on a couple’s first meeting/encounter. This is the first book I’m reading of hers so I’m being patient with it.
I’m also re-watching the first two seasons and starting the third of Outlander this spring and summer. So I’ve also been going back and skimming the first book as I re-watch the first season.
Oooh, Amanda, I loved The Others series. It seemed like it had been awhile since she’d had anything new out before that; or totally possible that I just don’t remember.
I’m trying to read Karen Marie Moning’s latest but I can’t for the life of me remember the title. If you haven’t read her Fever series, you just HAVE to.
But I also just got L.J. Shen’s Ruckus and Scandalous, so I’m reading those first. I saw a fan art Instagram account (sinners of saint) and it was SO GOOD that I just had to get the rest of the Saint books she has out.
@Ren- I always think I might like billionaire stories because I like the In Death books a lot and LOVED Gentleman in the Streets by Alisha Rai and I wish I was a billionaire, but I feel like in almost every one I’ve read the billionaire ends up using his money to lure the heroine in rather than like, his personality and charm.
@Amanda and Anonymous- I double checked the excerpt from Mr. Hotshot CEO says, from Courtney’s POV, “Every five years, like clockwork, I get depressed.” I think the book still has potential, like maybe she’s actually depressed a lot more and doesn’t necessarily realize it, then got it in her head that she gets really depressed every 5 years so the anticipation/dread of being depressed does actually does have a negative effect on her. IDK, I hope the book is good, but representing mental health well and with accuracy is really important to me so if the whole premise is what it says, that this character gets depressed once every 5 years and also doesn’t consider medication or therapy (she’s a scientist, so I’d expect her to have tried something beyond “tough it out”) I’ll be really disappointed.
Also, forgot I read the latest Sarah Maas, A Court of Frost and Starlight. I enjoyed it, but it did feel like kind of a filler book. I’m glad I checked it out from the library, as I don’t think I’ll be rereading it any time soon. There was just a lot of checking in with the characters and kind of setting things up for the next book, which I’m still looking forward to. Overall I felt like the book could have been edited down from it’s 272 pages into a novella. Pagewise, it’s between a half and a third of what the previous books in the series are, so it’s throwing me off that it’s about the same price. I did enjoy it, just not enough to recommend that anyone buy it at full price before they read it.
I feel like I didn’t read a ton this month, but looking back at my library checkouts, I guess that I did!
Highlights:
-Act Like It/Pretty Face by Lucy Parker. I don’t know why it took me so long to get into these, but they were fabulous. I bought Act Like It because it was on sale and then immediately had to purchase Pretty Face once I’d finished Act Like It. I’m looking forward to Making Up.
-Called Out by Jen Doyle. I read the previous two books and really enjoyed them, but I wasn’t sure about this one before I started it. I ended up liking it, though!
-The Room on Rue Amelie by Kristin Harmel. I could not put this one down. I fully admit my weakness for WWII settings, and I thought this was really well written! Definitely one of my favorite reads from May.
-Whiskey Sharp – Unraveled by Lauren Dane. I requested this one from the library based on SBTB recommendations, and I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to Jagged and Torn, although I’m nervous about Jagged since the parents are real headcases.
-Her Perfect Affair by Priscilla Oliveras. I really wanted to love this book, because of the tropes (one night stand turns into pregnancy; longterm crush fulfilled). I thought it was good in places, but it felt uneven overall so I’m disappointed.
-Someone to Care by Mary Balogh. I liked it, but I didn’t love it. I’m interested to see which family member is next though!
-My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma. Full disclosure, I know the author, and I read the manuscript in its infancy, so I knew the overall plot already. I ended up really enjoying it!! Even knowing the story, I was entertained and rooting for Winnie the whole time. YA is tough for me because there are occasional *facepalm* moments, but there were very few of those in this book.
I’ve been reluctant to watch Little Women (how can it compare to the book I love so much? How can it compare to angsty Christian Bale with floppy mid-90’s hair in the 1994 movie?) but I guess I have to at least try it now.
@Maite I LOVED Uprooted and will definitely have to look into her Dragon series now.
@Janice Thank you for the Carsington recommendation!! I loved both the Mummy and the Amelia Peabody series and didn’t even know I was looking for something to fill the void. I can’t wait to start those!
@Alexandra – the Obsession is one of my favorites of hers!!
A few highlights from the last two months. Not as much romance lately.
The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers – sf space opera. Really enjoyed this episodic novel of a merry and diverse band of adventurers in space. Enjoyed the no big deal inclusion of queer characters and the many different sapient species with a variety of genders and social customs.
Henchmen of Zenda by KJ Charles – mm adventure with romantic themes. Definitely not genre romance but lots of enjoyable swashbuckling and intrigue. KJC continues writing queer, feminist updates of classic Victorian pulp fiction – this time The Prisoner of Zenda. I enjoyed this one.
Unmasked by the Marquess by Cat Sebastian – queer Regency romance. Cat Sebastian also continues to queer historical romance – this time queering the “chicks in pants” trope by making it clear that this “chick in pants” is what we’d now call genderqueer or non-binary. I really enjoyed it a lot, although the initial set up that brings the two MCs into contact with each other required some suspension of disbelief on my part. But I just went with it and was rewarded with a funny, emotionally satisfying romance.
Midlife Crisis by Audra North – mm IR contemporary. This felt more like a journey of self discovery story than a romance but I’m glad I read it and I’m glad it exists in the world.
It’s the story of Cam, a closeted widower who comes to Austin Tx for a few months following his wife’s death. His hometown is a small Black farming community – it is a refuge against racism and yet, like many traditional communities, it’s stifling (and sometimes dangerous) for those who don’t fit in. The story highlights the good parts of the strong community as well as the stifling expectations and underlying homophobia and sexism. Because we only get Cam’s pov, his romance with the guy he meets at an Austin coffee shop seemed one sided. There are also a lot of flashbacks to Cam’s marriage, which may bother some readers.
Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula LeGuin. My first memorial re-read of LeGuin – read it for my queer genre fiction book group. It held up very well in some ways and not so well in others.
Raskura series by Martha Wells – I inhaled all 5 books in less than 2 months. It features complicated adventures with shape shifting flying lizard beings (Raskura) with an incredibly complicated biology and social structure in a really dangerous world. It’s not at all genre romance but if you (like me) grew up with Narnia, Pern, Lloyd Alexander and the show Gargoyles, you’ll probably enjoy this. There’s low key queer rep – the main character sleeps with both men and women but his sexual and romantic relationships aren’t a big focus of the story.
From the Ashes by Xen Sanders – mm super villain romance. I almost DNF’d this because the first half is really grim. The narrator is the son of an evil super villain and pretty evil himself. I found it really unpleasant to be in his head, especially when he was killing people. His redemption, when it came, was very satisfying – as was the romance.
Hits for me: THE PILOT AND THE PUCK-UP and BEAUTY AND THE BEEFCAKE both by Pippa Grant. These are rom-coms about two twin hockey players. One is flashy and loud and the other doesn’t hardly talk at all. Usually one word “sentences”, or nothing at all. Also, really enjoyed NO DUKES ALLOWED anthology by Kelly Bowen, Grace Burrowes, and Anna Harrington. I was correct in knowing I would not be let down with that trio of historical authors. IT TAKES TWO TO TUMBLE by Cat Sebastian took me a while to pick up because of the vicar MC that I usually avoid, but it was very well written and delightful.
Just OK for me: VIRGIN TERRITORY by Lia Riley, AN AMERICAN CINDERELLA by Krista Lakes, and HEAD OVER HEELS by Serena Bell. None of them grabbed me and wouldn’t let go.
I am almost finished with DRUNK DIAL by Penelope Ward and unless it goes completely off the rails, it is a definite “hit” for me. There is lots of dialogue and that is my reading kryptonite.
@ Francesca, praying that everything continues to improve and your tests continue favorable.
Just finished A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev and really enjoyed it. She really hits you in all the feels and she’s an object lesson in sensory description. A few odd loose ends that never really got tied up but nothing to spoil my enjoyment. Looking forward to reading more of her books.
Finally free of the freelance project that ate all my time for two months, so I am positively giddy and trying to decide what to read next now that I have more reading time.
@Kate B I watched Little Women too and while I enjoyed it a lot I wish they had done it in four or five parts instead of just two. I felt like the development of Amy and Laurie’s relationship, as well as Jo and the Professor’s, were given really short shrift and not much development, and I too wish they had shown more of Meg trying to get a handle on married life. They never even showed how Amy and Laurie took the news of Beth’s death, which was kind of a pivotal point in their relationship. But the cast was excellent – best Marmee ever! – and both Michael Gambon and Angela Lansbury were a treat.
Considering I never thought I’d be interested in reading a m/m romance, that’s pretty much all I’ve been devouring throughout May. Why didn’t anybody tell me how brilliant historical m/m can be?
Oh wait…you all did…:)
I read all Cat Sebastian, then Joanna Chambers, and then MacKenzi Lee.
I’m sure this has been a Rec League at some point, so I’ll be doing some SBTB searches this week.
@Deborah: Have you tried KJ Charles? I think all of Charles’ books are historical, though some have fantasy elements.
@Amanda: No! But I just looked up some of her books and they look right up my alley – magicians, for a start! Thanks for the rec 🙂
This has been a weird reading month for me. I’ve been a combination of busy/stressed and tired that has resulted in days of binge reading followed by days where I fall asleep early and don’t read at all. I finished The Chosen by JR Ward, which I thought was really good, although typical of that series in that it is hella exciting and everything is going crazy right up until the last 3 pages when it’s like “and then everyone got better and they love each other and everything is cool and they all had a big party.” With a notable exception, a lot of this series ends this way. Kind of abrupt. But not in a bad way exactly. I also read Completely by Ruthie Knox, which finished her New York trilogy in a way that I found mostly very satisfying, and I hope she writes lots more things because I just love her writing. And I read a book that I got for free, Sins of the Heart by Eve Silver. It’s the first book in a paranormal series that deals with gods of the Underworld. There is a mystery aspect to it that I liked but I struggled a little with the worldbuilding. I read 3 Harlequin Presents which were mostly forgettable, unfortunately. And I read Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin, a re-read for me but I needed a book for sitting by the pool and that seemed appropriate. Now I’m starting Take the Lead by Alexis Daria, and for my book club I am reading Between the World and Me by Ta’Nehisi Coates. Hoping for more consistent reading in June now that my kids are independent enough for poolside reading to be a viable option!
I’m also on a fantasy reading kick. Just finished Uprooted and can’t wait for the second. Reading the third book by Pearson, The Beauty of Darkness and wishing it wouldn’t end. Next up, Kate Elliott’s Cold Magic.
I read a lot this month, more than I realized until I looked at the list
Outstanding
Kelly, Carla – Courting Carrie in Wonderland – A lovely story about turn of the century Yellowstone. There’s a little preachiness concerning buffalo, but primary and secondary characters are just wonderful. You could see them telling their grandkids, “this is how we met…”
Great
Harper, Kaje – Hidden Wolves (1-4) MM werewolves with thoughts and feelings. And a good story. Each couple was different and had very different issues (cross dressing wolf anyone?). I wish there was more of this series.
Leigh, Garrett – Dream; Whisper; Misfits; Strays; Heart; Only Love; House of Cards; & Junkyard Heart. Needless to say – I read one and then had to read the backlist. Sorry that I can’t give them the reviews they deserve, but she gave me characters that I was glad to know. I just wanted more of them – like a couple chapters more in every book.
Van Natta, Carol – Hooray for Holopticon – Reminded me of a Donald Westlake novel in outer space. I’m not sure what kind of book this is, but I enjoyed it a lot.
Pretty Good
Ball, Margaret – A Pocket Full of Stars – Magic and Mathematics in Austin! This is urban fantasy with a group of math geeks out to save the world, or at least a bit of Austin. I can’t wait until the next installment and am very glad to find Margaret Ball again.
Carriger, Gail – How to Marry a Werewolf – I liked this, just wished it was longer.
Hammond, T – Team Red series (1-6). Its all about the talking dog. Really, it is. But then its also about the relationships. The entire series was several bad decision nights in a row, and I want more. That said, the writing isn’t perfect, there was some repetition, and a couple of hops in logic. But, I really really want more of these.
Laurenston, Shelly – The Unleashing & The Undoing. Its Laurenston, so its good. I just like her other books better. Especially in the Undoing she kept glossing over the interesting bits to get to the overall Evil thing going to ruin the world plot.
Martinez, Angel – Brimstone company books. Demons and Angels and hedgehogs in outer space. Lots of fun to read.
OK
Katz, Meredith – Smoke Signals – I didn’t remember reading this one and had to look it up on Amazon again. That said, it was an ok MM story about an IT guy who is sent on a house call to do upgrades on a dragon’s computer.
Mooney, Linda – Specter of the Marsh – This was ok, it just felt rushed. To get the entire group in the picture it didn’t focus on the protagonists. The series overall, however is great.
Meh
Charles, K.J. – The Henchmen of Zenda – I would have enjoyed this more if I remembered the original better. Not going on my keeper shelf.
Trent, Holly – (The Afótama Legacy Books 1 &2). I’m having a hard time with these. I like the overall story. I like the female characters. However, there’s dubious consent and a couple of times I literally put the kindle down and took a walk so I wouldn’t throw it at the wall. I’m still reading the series and having similar problems – hopefully it will get better, because the story itself is interesting.
Voinov, Aleksandr – Witches of London – Lars – I felt let down by the end, and really didn’t think the characters were going to be together in a couple of years.
Okay, I know this is a late post, but I reallllly need to vent.
I’ve been reading a lot of contemporary romances lately where the couple bickers along the road to coupledom, and I needed a change. So I started hunting through my TBR for more adventure type romances where the couple is united against an external problem. In the past week, I ended up having two episodes of Bad Decisions Book Club as I devoured Local Custom and Scout’s Progress by Sharon Lee and Scott Miller. The books were great; I love SFR; why didn’t I read these sooner? So, today, I started poking around online to see which book to read next, and …. It turns out there’s a sequel to Scout’s Progress in which the heroine dies.
Gah!! I loved Daav, a supporting character in Local Custom and hero of Scout’s Progress. He’s a sort of Bran/Rothgar/Rogan/lonely-leader-who-needs-somebody-to-love character. And the love of his life dies in the sequel.
Gah! I’m having a mini crisis over here.
I don’t fault the authors for writing what they want to write. I am reminded, though, of why I read Romance. Gah.
Late to the party again, but here goes:
Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt. Not a romance, but a creepy suspense/mystery. I became fascinated by the time I’d finished the first five or six pages. Very strange and surreal read, and I loved it. Might read again!
The Widow by Fiona Barton. Enjoyed this one but it kind of dragged from the halfway point, and I found the wrap-up a bit predictable.
The Magpie Lord (A Charm of Magpies Book 1) by KJ Charles. Loved everything about this one. The story, the magical components, the development of the romance, all the characters, and the writing style. Already ordered Book 2.
House of Shadows by Darcy Coates (Book 1). Gothic romantic suspense. Enjoyed this one quite a bit too. Excellently atmospheric with a twisting storyline. Will be ordering Book 2.
The Black Lily by Juliette Cross. Disappointed with this one. I felt it sank into predictability very early on, as though checking off all the necessary boxes to fill in a formula/template standard for this type of romance. I basically speed-read through most of it.
Currently reading:
Blood Brothers by Nora Roberts (The Sign of Seven Book 1). I’m so in love with this book and I’m not even halfway through with it. Great characters and it’s incredibly tense and spooky already. The romance seems to be developing early in the book, which is kind of disappointing because I prefer a slow burn but perhaps there are some unexpected twists and turns ahead.