We’re about to finish up March and you know what that means…
APRIL FOOL’S DAY!
We like to go a bit big for that goofy holiday and yes, we do have something planned this year. I hope you’ll mark your calendars and be sure to join us on the start of the month.
Anywho, let’s get into what we’re reading!
Lara: I’m a teacher and my life has been swallowed by work of late. I only manage about a paragraph (!) before I fall asleep. So it’s been WEEKS with no real reading. But the major deadlines are behind me now and I intend on dedicating this long weekend (in South Africa) to reading and napping. My first foray back into the reading world was inspired by my friend Katusha: Grace Draven’s Phoenix Unbound. I’m loving it!
Elyse: I’m reading Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez and it’s totally an ugly cry book.
Sarah: I just finished What Abigail Did That Summer by Ben Aaronovitch ( A | BN | K ) (and am waiting for Adam to finish it so we can talk about it). Last night I started Confident Women by Tori Telfer about con women through history and oh, yeah, this is exactly my jam, confit, reduction and reading coulis.
Tara: I’m finally reading The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) and I am loving it. It’s so soft and the characters are lovely.
Carrie: That book is my everything.
EllenM: I’ve been reading the Elder Races series by Thea Harrison ( A | BN | K | G | AB | Au ) and really enjoying it; they are just fun and let me turn off my brain in a very relaxing way.
Sneezy: Rereading Wild Rain by Beverly Jenkins and A Touch of Stone and Snow by Milla Vane, because I am in severe need of comfort.
Carrie: I’m almost done with Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor and gracious it is zipping along but I have been forewarned that it is about 1000 pages long and ends on a cliffhanger. The author meant to write a sequel but never did. This seems oddly fitting as it means that Amber, the main character, just keeps chasing her true love, sleeping with everyone she meets, and spending money she does not have, forever, as the title indicates.
If Amber St. Clare and Scarlett O’Hara teamed up the world would cower before them but they’d never manage to team up and would instead scratch each other to bits and die in vast piles of expensive fabric.
Shana: Well, that devolved fast.
Carrie: They are equally horrible people. Gone With the Wind and Forever Amber are basically the same book only Forever Amber is set in Restoration Era England and features, so far, a war, the plague, the Great Fire of London, an invasion, and court intrigue.
Shana: I can’t disagree there. I am still reading in sloth mode, so I’m keeping on with Eight Kinky Nights by Xan West. ( A | K | AB ) It’s only 372 pages, but it feel longer somehow. Not in a bad way, I find the endless scenes of couch cuddling and feeding each other tasty snacks very relaxing to read. It’s a VERY low conflict book.
Catherine: I just finished Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron, and was DELIGHTED. Not least because the hero clearly shares my views on sourdough starters and that is why I will never have a sourdough starter.
Kiki: In the brief moments that I’m not watching Grey’s Anatomy I’m reading Love Code by Ann Aguirre which is so, so lovely and gentle and at only 25% I already feel confident that it’s going on my best of 2021 list.
Which books are you finishing right now? Tell us all about them!
I decided to dive back into an old Anne McCaffrey favorite, Freedom’s Landing, and oh boy was that a mistake. It does not hold up after 25 years and my 15 year old self overlooked a bunch of stuff. The heroine was irritating, the world building was superficial, the dialogue was irritating, etc. And then it just ended. Huh? Anyway I will not be rereading any of the sequels.
Currently reading Spacer’s Cinderella by Adria Rose. I believe this was on a WAYR recommendation many moons ago. So far I’m enjoying it. The plot is a little more involved than I had anticipated and it’s not a full Cinderella story. But it is fun and I like the characters.
@Margaret- Envy remains my favorite Sandra Brown novel. The “book within a book” plot works so well. It’s especially great on audio narrated by Victor Slezak.
I’ve been in a terrible reading slump for months. Mostly I’ve been re-reading comfort books again–Sally Malcolm’s Perfect Day and How to be a Normal Person by TJ Klune. Luckily I came across a mention of Stella Riley here recently and on a whim bought The Parfit Knight which turned out to be the slump buster I’ve been dreaming of. I read it in a few days which is unheard of for me right now. Finished it and went straight back to the beginning and read it again. Ordered myself a print copy for my keeper shelf and then found out that Alex Wyndham narrates the audiobook and bought that. I’m giddy just thinking about listening to the audiobook–especially hearing the narrator’s interpretation of Broody. I can’t believe I had never heard of Stella Riley before this, but already bought the whole Rockliffe series and will be starting The Mesalliance today. Not sure who recommended this series here on the site, but THANK YOU!
@Escapeologist Thanks for the recommendation of the Cafe Le Femme mysteries- I’ll try them out!
I just binged all of R.J. Blain’s romantic comedy with a body count series. Lots of fun chaos, similar to Shelly Laurenston, except that all of her endings are very abrupt. Once you know to expect this they are fun and engaging.
I’m currently reading “Paladin’s Grace” by T. Kingfisher and I’m so glad I already ordered “Paladin’s Strength” because Istvhan is my favourite character. My angst tolerance is really low at the moment but somehow this is working for me (severed heads and all). I love the characters, the world building and the humour and wish I wouldn’t have to leave this world to go to work.
In the last WAYR I remember writing something like “not sure what’s wrong, I think I might be in a reading slump.” Can now confirm I am definitely in a reading slump and I don’t like it! I just can’t find a book that works for me at the moment. In the last two weeks I DNF Wolf Gone Wild, which everyone seems to love, but I found irritating because I just wanted something to HAPPEN, some kind of big bad for them to fight or an adventure or a road trip or….when I got to 25% and all they had done was go to the movies I was out. Then I tried The Duke Who Ravished Me by Diana Quincy, a Fated Mates recommendation that had been lingering on my Kindle for a while. It was…OK? The heroine was interesting but you could see the Big Misunderstanding coming from a mile away and it stressed me out, so I ended up skimming the last 30% or so. Then I DNF two more contemporaries before giving up and rereading A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Court of Mist and Fury. For some reason I never read the third book in that series so am working on that now, but again it’s like I know that what’s coming for these characters is probably bad and full of angst and sadness and that is stressing me out! I have reached two conclusions about this: 1. I am hitting a pandemic wall and literally am sitting at my breaking point where stress is concerned, hence I cannot handle even fictional stress, and 2. yet, if the story isn’t interesting enough or moving along quickly enough then it doesn’t divert my brain enough from focusing on my real life stress, causing me to get frustrated and DNF. So at this point my plan is to look at rereads, and maybe some category romance which usually has a pretty tight plot, until I can lift myself out of this funk. Would love any recommendations for books that are low-stakes/light/funny but have a fast-moving plot or good banter between the characters, in hopes of eventually reading my way out of this. For all who are having a tough time this month–I see you and I’m with you!
I’m so glad to have found this community! I’m new(ish) to the genre and have been delving hard into Lisa Kleypas’s Ravenel and Hathaway series. Just finished Weston Ravenel’s story ‘Devil’s Daughter’ (omg. how I adore him – he is hysterical) and Leo Hathaway’s story ‘Married by Morning’ (he is also funny and adorable). Both of those series are very well written, imo, and I find myself emotionally invested in the characters and their evolutions.
Then I jumped to Ted Chiang’s short stories ‘Exhalation’ and wth was I thinking? I’d forgotten that the science and math constructs in his work is so far beyond my paygrade that my eyes nearly fell out, trying to process what I was reading. As with ‘Stories of Your Life and Others’ I’mo have to do it via audio. Carl Zimmer’s ‘Soul Made Flesh’ (about the discovery and developing study of the brain throughout history) is my nonfiction for this month – a very well-written, compelling book.
Next up: Tracey Livesay’s ‘Sweet Talkin’ Lover’
@KB, for banter, I recommend Julie James’ Something About You and the follow on books in her FBI/US Attorney series as well as Lucy Parker’s Act Like It.
@Cristie:
Several of us in the comments section are fans of Stella Riley’s work. I haven’t read her Georgian set books, which seem to be her most popular, yet. A particular hang-up with the Parfit Knight* is the heroine’s blindness and as a blind reader one can be taken aback when they see their disability represented in a fictional context. but I like her writing and have enjoyed her books set during the 1600’s for many reasons which include the fact that this particular setting isn’t seen often. On a related note, she is in the midst of writing a trilogy which is a spin off of the Rockliffe series. The second book was released on the 26th, and since Alex Wyndham is her usual narrator I suspect an audio version will be recorded soon.
*Every time I write the name of this book I write Parfate Knight. I’m not sure why. I’m typically pretty good at checking on unusual spellings like that, although I had never known of this word until I found the book.
Nothing substantial to report in reading. I seem to have periods where I read a lot very quickly, and then don’t read at all for awhile. This is why I don’t often comment on these posts, although I enjoy reading what others have to say.
@KB, I second Kareni’s recommendation of the Julie James and Lucy Parker books for banter.
Maya Rodale’s Gilded Age Girls Club are light and funny, I’ve read the first two and enjoyed them.
Jackie Lau’s Holidays with the Wongs series are nice light reads with funny moments, and a lot of good food – don’t read them if you’re hungry! I’ve read all but the second and liked them.
Hang in there and hope you find some books that keep your interest!
@KB seconding Jackie Lau for light and funny – I loved the Ultimate Pi Day Party. Also Jennifer Crusie, Anyone But You. Or if you’re in a British mood, Jill Mansell, Millie’s Fling was a funny romcom.
I haven’t been able to finish any books since last Whatcha reading. Enjoyed the sample of Paladins Strength but I’m scared of the dark parts mentioned in reviews. Sigh.. I did binge Derry Girls and ugly cried at the season 2 finale. Reread of The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet going well so far.
@Kareni, @Sydneysider, and @Escapeologist, thank you for the recs!! Love both Julie James and Lucy Parker. You reminded me that I downloaded but never read the last in the London Celebrities series, I think it was called Headliners, so that might work for me. Also I have heard good things about Jackie Lau and Maya Rodale and have never read either one so will give those a try. I appreciate it!
I finished The Day of the Duchess, by Sarah MacLean this past weekend. I absolutely loved the first two books in the series, but this one just wasn’t for me. Mostly due to there being too many secondary characters, (who I felt were all talking all at one time, and were all constantly ganging up on the hero), and not liking much of the banter/dialogue.
I’ve now started To Sir Phillip With Love, by Julia Quinn, and am really enjoying it so far.
I’m always amongst the last in these aren’t I? But I have been enjoying sharing here a lot! It makes me think a bit about why I liked something (or didn’t!) and is also making me keep a track of what I’m reading for the first time ever! So, let’s get down to business, shall we?
First off, Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hession: I don’t think I’ve loved a book as much as I loved this in a long, long, long time. This is an unassuming, quiet, and joyful story. Its slice-of-life-ness reminds me of Barbara Pym in some ways (it isn’t acerbic like Pym though). Oh and this ISN’T a romance though happy romances, three of them—one a couple who’ve been married for 30+ years, one who’re just about be married, and one who’re just embarking on a relationship—IS a part of this book. Its two protagonists, Leonard and Hungry Paul (we never do find out why the writer calls him that), are 30 somethings, oddballs really, who aren’t anything like your usual heroes (alpha or beta or anything else). I can go on and on and about this book, but there are much better reviews online (some loving the book, some meh-ing it), so if you’re even a bit interested, look them up and see if this might be your jam.
My favorite bit about this book: I am someone who finds silence and quietness nourishing (and by silence I mean, no activity of either external or internal-mental kind, kinda like meditation, though not always) and this book celebrates silence in spades. I’ll end with one of the best quotes I have ever found on relationships (I highlighted the heck out of this book and plan on reading it again):
[My husband and I have known each other for 17 years now, and this quote in particular really struck me as being true] “As you both change, you will periodically lose each other. You need to find each other again—and here’s the trick—instead of trying to rekindle what you had, you need to reinvent yourselves and your relationship. You have to keep starting new relationships with the same person.”
The Chai Factor by Farah Heron: This is a really, really good book but like the Harper St. George book (The Heiress Gets A Duke) I found that the issues it interweaves in its story—topics/themes that are important, relevant, and stuff that NEEDS to be thought about and talked about—made me not really enjoy the book as much. Which, is not really a comment on the book itself, but speaks more about me as a reader, doesn’t it? Part of my lack of enjoyment was also because I never really warmed to Duncan. My favorite bits in this book were all the female relationships, between Amira and her mother, Amira and her sister, Amira and her friend, Amira and her grandmom. I will be reading Reena’s book to see if that might me more enjoyable for me since it’s more food-centered!
Aunt Sophie’s Diamond by Joan Smith: I had to read something totally fun and frothy after The Chai Factor and this was it. The humor and the set-up in general—an older Hh and a younger Hh, ridiculous and yet such fun side-characters, the romance unfolding in the background of a full-of-hijinks-plot—reminded me of Heyer at times. I will be checking out more from Joan Smith!
Brothers in Arms by Bujold: Ohh, Miles! I started reading this series a while back because A Civil Contract kept cropping up as an excellent romance and the consensus was to read the series from the start to really appreciate and enjoy this particular installment. So from the beginning I started, and my goodness! What plots and tricks Bujold dreams up! What a character Miles is! He could easily give Dorothy Dunnett’s Francis of Lymond a run for his money! I’m reading in the order suggested by Bujold herself which is the internal chronological order of the story rather than the publishing chronology and this is a good 7th (?) addition to the series! I am looking forward to returning to the next one when the mood strikes!
Just wanted to thank whomever circled back last time to let @DiscoDollyDeb know that the Alice Coldbreath book WED BY PROXY she mentioned was a winner. I missed the original rec–thank you both.
I investigated the book…and then promptly knew that I needed to read all things Coldbreath.