What We're Reading

Nicola here, introducing this month's What We're Reading blog. As ever, the Wenches have been reading some very interesting books and we're keen to hear what you think and what your recommendations are too!

This month I’ve been catching up with some of the books that were shortlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year Awards.  The Gentleman Rogue by Margaret McPhee was a finalist in the short romance section and is a powerfully emotional Regency historical that had me gripped. There was amazing chemistry between the heroine, Emma, and Ned, who was one of the most attractive heroes I've read in a long time.

Another fabulous read was Struck, by Joss Stirling, a YA romance with a great crime mystery thrown in as well. It takes place in an exclusive English boarding school where scandal and corruption lurk behind the ivy-clad walls. The author mentioned that she had modelled the hero, Kieren Storm, on a young version of Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock. Raven Stone, the heroine, is a gutsy American girl you can really root for. It’s a great read!

Finally the reburial of King Richard III prompted me to reach yet again for The Daughter of Time by

Josephine Tey, the book that first piqued my interest in Richard' and his reign. I love all of Josephine Tey's books so can see myself reading through my entire collection again now.

Now over to the other Wenches!

Pat writes:

I like to explore new-to-me authors, but I’ve been having a bad reading month and haven’t found anyone exciting lately. So I’ve fallen back on favorites. I finally read Patricia Brigg’s Night Broken, one of her Mercy Thompson novels. I love her urban fantasies because they’re so human! The book is as much about Mercy dealing with her husband’s charming but manipulative ex-wife as it is about finding the vengeful ancient-god stalker who followed the stupid ex straight to Mercy’s home.

And then I picked up Angie Fox’s newest series starter—Southern Spirits. If you’ve ever read Angie, you’ll recognize her voice, although this time she’s writing a mystery about ghosts instead of chasing demons. Small southern town seeped in legends and history, a bootlegger ghost to help the heroine out, and a hunky cop to get her into trouble—can’t ask for more!

 

Jo Beverley:

This month I read a book recommended a little while ago here -- Imperfect Chemistry by Mary Frame. It was as enjoyable as said, with a geeky prodigy deciding to become more "normal" by going after her sexy neighbor. I think this is what's called New Adult fiction, about people in their early twenties who are very much of today's world.

I also read Fledgling, by Sharon Lee and Stever Miller, a Liaden novel I'd missed. It has some similarities to Imperfect Chemistry, though the protagonist is younger. Theo too is a clever misfit, but this is really an Ugly Duckling story. The Liaden books are space opera, with multiple worlds lived on by humans -- and some others -- all with different social structures. In Fledgling, having to move to a different world leads to Theo's transformation, both on the journey and when there. It's a good read, and the e-book is still free.

 

Cara/Andrea:

 

Mystery! Well, that is, it’s probably no mystery by now that I love the genre, and this month I’ve been really immersing myself in in both new and classic reads. A friend got me watching the BBC series Sherlock (hard not to like Benedict Cumberbatch) , which I enjoyed very much—but it suddenly occurred to be that I had never read the original Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes books. (How did that happen???) So off I hurried to the library, and I have been enjoying the tales very much.  I enjoy the writing style, and the development of Holmes and Watson, who’ve inspired so many subsequent detective pairing. And while the plots may not be as complex, dark  and twisty as modern novels, they really are great fun.

 I’ve also been enjoying a modern take on historical mystery. I’m a big fan of the Regency-set Sebastian St. Cyr books by C. S. Harris, and the latest release, Who Buries The Dead, is a wonderful addition to the series. Gritty and layered with well-rendered psychological portraits of Sebastian, Hero and all the people who make up their world, the books use the crime of murder to delve into far deeper questions about society, power and influence in Regency London. The stories are taut with suspense, and really make for a riveting read.

  

Mary Jo:

Like Pat, I'm going to talk about a Patricia Briggs book.  Pat's choice, Night Broken, is part of the Mercedes Thompson series.  I read the book when it came out, and l loved it.  The heroine, Mercy, is a coyote shifter in a world of werewolves, vampires, fae, and much more, and there's a great romance.

 Briggs has another series set in the same world.  Alpha and Omega features a pair of mated werewolves: Charles, a half native American enforcer is the Alpha, and Anna, an Omega whose presence soothes other werewolves, and who is immune to Alpha control. 

 I've always preferred the Mercy Thompson books, until now.  Dead Heat, the latest Alpha and Omega
book, is every bit as good as a Mercy story.  It begins when Charles and Anna take a holiday, leaving the werewolf home in Montana to visit an old friend of Charles' in Arizona, and also to buy Anna a horse since the old friend is a horse breeder.  Things Happen and there is much excitement.  There is also lots of information about Arabian horses since Briggs raises them herself and has clearly been pining for the opportunity to write about them. <G>

But the heart of the story lies deeper as Anna and Charles deal with a significant issue in their marriage.  There is also a theme of what it's like to be virtually immortal while those you love grow old and die.  It's all worked out in a wonderfully satisfactory way!

On the non-fiction front, I want to recommend journalist Gail Sheehy's memoir, Daring: My Passages.  Sheehy has been a groundbreaking journalist and feminist from the 1960s onward.  Her 1976 book Passages was a huge bestseller that changed the way people thought about growth and change throughout one's life.  Her 1993 book The Silent Passage was another game changer as it pulled menopause out of the closet into the light of day. 

And in Daring, she has written the story of her life and challenges.  The ups and downs, the struggles of a single mother to work while caring for her beloved daughter, a tempestuous affair that eventually became  a devoted marriage--she has lived a remarkable life, and she writes really, really well. 

Joanna here: 

I'm reading just about nothing since I'm absorbed by the Work in Progress. But I've indulged myself in
Grace Burrowes' The Traitor.  It's one of those 'Come for the Romance, Stay for the Sharp Character Analysis' books.

The hero, Sebastian, is half French, half English when France and England are locked in war. The book explores hard choices a man makes and how he lives with them.

Next up, I go to a favorite author of mine, Anne Perry, and Callander Square — a Victorian-set mystery. Well-born Charlotte and her Police Inspector husband set about solving crime among the stuffy rich. I haven't read this series in order myself, but you might want to start with the first in the series, The Cater Street Hangman.

Susan: 

I too have been reading mysteries, including Alan Bradley's latest in the Flavia De Luce series, As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust. Once again the intrepid, clever Flavia ferrets out secrets in a witty and brilliant way with a touch of vulnerability and sensitivity quite natural to an 11-yr-old, even if her chemistry genius is off the charts. This time, Flavia is packed off to a girls' school in Canada to face a whole new location and complete strangers, and though I thought that leaving her home of Buckshaw in the English countryside would eliminate a crucial setting character in the series, Bradley does a fantastic job of creating a new environment and drawing his reader in. Flavia is one of my favorite sleuths, a blend of whimsy and genius, Pippi and Sherlock. And Bradley's books are an exception for me--I always listen to them in audio. Jayne Entwistle's narration is flawless, whimsical, clear as a bell, and she creates the perfect evocation of Bradley's books. I highly recommend both the written and the audio -- do check out Flavia!  

I've also returned to the Laurie R. King series of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. In The Moor (and yes, I have a long way to go to catch up to King's newer Russell novels!), Russell and her husband, Holmes, are in misty, ominous Dartmoor investigating a death with some very creepy circumstances, a riveting return and intriguing take on The Hound of the Baskervilles. The Russell-Holmes books are so smart and beautifully written that I keep coming back. I should add that I've never been much of a series reader, more of a series grazer in every genre, but these two mystery series--King's Russell and Bradley's Flavia--totally capture my attention!     

 Anne here:

A friend recently gave me Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher, who is her favourite author, and I have to say I’ve loved it. I haven’t quite finished Winter Solstice, but I’ve already bought Pilcher’s The Shell Seekers, Going Home and September. For some, the books might be a little slow-paced and perhaps even old-fashioned, but I’m really enjoying the slow reveals, the wonderfully detailed settings and her well rounded and appealing characters. I can’t put it down. And by the way, Winter Solstice seems to be very cheap on kindle at the moment.

On a completely different note, I’ll also add that I fully endorse Pat and Mary Jo’s recommendations of Patricia Briggs. They mentioned her books to me some time back and I ended up glomming the lot.

So there are a few of our reads for the month of March. Have you read any of these books? Thoughts? And do you have any recommendations for the Wenches?

 

Comments

[Sonya Heaney]

I absolutely *loved* The Gentleman Rogue when I read an ARC a few months ago. Enough to buy myself a copy for a reread.

Funny, but I've always really loved the Alpha and Omega series, but thought this one was the weakest so far! I got sick of reading about horses. The novella that kicked off the series is one of the best novellas I've ever read.

That entire Grace Burrowes series is brilliant. I read them all while on holiday last year.

[Nicola Cornick]

I'm thrilled you enjoyed The Gentleman Rogue, Sonya. I like all of Margaret McPhee's books but with this one I thought she had excelled herself. Brilliant. I've got so much stuff on my TBR pile. There are some great recommendations this month and I want to pick up the Grace Burrowes books.

[Artemisia]

Winter Solstice. I have to read it every other year. And September. On a serious note, Sheehy's Passages In Caregiving has been my best help so far in The Aged Parent Project.

[Michele]

I LOVED Binchy's "Winter Solstice," which I read during a particularly difficult time in my life. I think the quiet style is perfect for this book about lives coming back to joy. Angie Fox is always fun, and while I've enjoyed reading Briggs' series, I particularly love her lesser known fantasies. Laurie R. King's Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes books are a must-read for me, as well as her other series. And thank you for the recommendations!

[Cheryll Kregear]

Love Alan Bradley. I have read all the Flavia stories. Just finished The Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust. I was worried the change of scene would not work out but it was fine. Really enjoyed it. When ever I see the newest of this series I grab it. I'm going to check out the audio books though.

[Andrea Penrose]

I love this monthly post, as I always discover great suggestions. Must read The Gentleman Rogue and Grace Burroughs. Have also added the Flavia books, which I keep meaning to read! Loved Winter Solstice too when I read it a long time ago, and it may be time for a re-read. So little time, so many good books!

[Samantha]

I love when you all share what you are reading. I usually go and purchase a couple of the suggestions immediately and I have yet to be disappointed.

Thank you!

[Janga]

Some of my favorite mystery authors are on your lists today. C. S. Harris and Alan Bradley are must-reads for me.

I recently bought both volumes of C. S. Lewis's collected letters when Amazon offered them for less than $2 each, and I have been reading bits from those, taking particular delight in his letters to Dorothy B. Sayers. Three historical romances I read and loved are releasing tomorrow: A Good Rake Is Hard to Find by Manda Collins (a mystery/romance mix), Four Nights with a Duke (a charming marriage-by-blackmail tale) by Eloisa James, and It Started with a Scandal (the tenth Pennyroyal Green book featuring a French aristocrat and his housekeeper).

Sometimes I long to read an older book, more introspective than most of what I read now, one that I shared with my mother. So today I am reading The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge. It's a quiet book, perhaps too quiet in spots, but it has the most wonderful character portraits. I expect to begin rereading another Kindle bargain later today: A Summer House by Marcia Willett. I began reading Willett years ago when Mary Jo recommended her in an AAR post. Please note this means I was following Wench recommendations before there were Wenches. :)

[Michelle Athy]

I finished Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie last week and I'm reading Jane Eyre now. I threw Jane Eyre on the floor when I was 13 and couldn't seem to get through it, but now I'm about 35% in and plot's moving and I'm enjoying it. I'm also eagerly awaiting my copy of The Outlandish Companion this week.

[Janice]

I'm still working my way through Alan Furst's wonderfully atmospheric novels about Europe during WW2. As a romance reader, I am sometimes taken aback by the attitudes :) -- told from the male point of view, all relationships are solely based on great sex; nobody seems to worry about getting pregnant but there's no mention of birth control or hygiene or any of that inconvenient stuff; only one man so far ends up married to his lover; only one man so far has gotten an STD but he was a villain anyway. The women seem to be mostly in their late 30s or early 40s but pregnancy is still possible then. The sensibility is period accurate but it seems very strange to me. The author is so realistic and gritty about the rest of that era that the complication-free sex seems oddly out of tone to me. But they are tales of brave people doing amazing things and well worth the time.

On the TBR I have Madeline Hunter's latest and the usual shelves full of older regencies that I'll get to Real Soon Now.

[Anne Gracie]

Janga, I also remember you wrote to me when I was a brand-new author, before I was a wench. :) And I always enjoy *your* recommendations. I had pre-ordered the Eloisa James, of course and I have enjoyed Elizabeth Gouge in the past, but not for many years. I've never read Marcia Willett, so that might be where I go today. Thanks.

[Nicola Cornick]

Passages in Caregiving sounds very useful, Artemisia. I will hunt that one up. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Nicola Cornick]

I still have a number of Maeve Binchy books on my shelf -read them all when I was younger - and I particularly like Snow in April.

[Nicola Cornick]

Thank YOU, Samantha! We get so many great recommendations ourself that it is a lot of fun!

[Nicola Cornick]

We enjoy your recommendations too, Janga. There's definitely a place for quiet books.

[Nicola Cornick]

I'm sorry that Typepad seems to have gone a bit wild posting comments in italics and multiple copies of them too. Hoping normal service will be resumed soon!

[Nicola Cornick]

The Alan Furst books sound interesting, Janice, although I think I would find the anachronistic attitudes to sex pulled me out of the story too.

[Carolyn]

I always enjoy your monthly what we are reading feature. I have been trying some of the mystery authors mentioned. The Alan Bradley Flavia books are quirky and interesting. I read The Traitor and enjoyed it. I am a fan of Grace Burrowes and have enjoyed many of her books. I think the C.S. Harris books will be my next new read. Thanks for all the good suggestions.

[Karin]

I also read the C.S. Harris book, loved it as usual; a year is too long to wait for a fix of Sebastian St. Cyr and Hero.
I read "By Eastern Windows" which is part 1 of a novelization of the life of Lachlan Macquarie, who was so influential as a founding father of Australia when he was Governor there. But this book is about his early life in India, I found myself quite fascinated, more so than I expected.
I just finished "Secrets in Scarlet" by Erica Monroe which was quite good and out of the ordinary. Much grittier than the average historical, the heroine works in a Spitalfields weaving factory and the hero is a policeman. I just bought the next in the series, "Beauty and the Rake", they all seem to take place in the rookeries(slums) of London.
And I just discovered Kris Tualla! I read the free sample of "A Discreet Gentleman of Discovery" which looks to be fascinating and totally my catnip. I then snapped it up because it's on sale for .99! It's set in early 18th century Norway of all places. The hero is a private investigator and was the heir of a noble family, but was disinherited in favor of a younger brother because he is deaf, and now he is seeking to build his own fortune. It looks like he will become involved with a heiress who is engaged to the brother.

[Nicola Cornick]

Thanks, Carolyn. I'm so glad you've found some good reads. The Flavia books are new to me so I am excited to read those! So many people have recommended the C S Harris as well.

[Nicola Cornick]

Ooh, I am off to find the Kris Tualla book, Karin. Sounds great, as do your other recommendations. Thank you! It's been a great month for the TBR pile!

[Vicki W.]

My new author of the month is Stefanie Sloane. I apparently had picked up 2 of her books during a library book sale. They were a lot of fun to read. Very witty (I laughed out loud numerious times) with plenty of adventure and action.

The first one in the series is The Devil in Disguise. I, of course ended up with #1 & #4 but luckily they can be read as stand-a-lone books. Luckily for me #2 and #5 have arrived so I'll go devour them. Grin...

[Janice]

I'm not sure they are anachronistic, Nicola - I just want a mention from this modern author of how pregnancy was avoided. However, in that era, it's the sort of thing men just didn't want to know about, and since these books are told from the hero's point of view, I don't find the omission strange; they are very like other novels written during that period, very male-oriented. When did you ever read a tale by a man that showed the heroine spending two hours getting ready for an important date? No, it's all just magic, it just happens :) If they worry about pregnancy (or disease), it's after the sex, not before. I would not say the absence of birth control pulls me out of these stories, but as a modern reader, it's odd to me that a modern writer left it out.

I sometimes think that romance writers write about men as women might wish them to be -- not the way they really are. There are some romance writers I can't read for that reason - they don't ring true.

[Shannon]

I've read Traitor and Winter Solstice and thoroughly enjoyed both.

A loop I'm on mentioned several Old School Romances (defined mainly as published before 2000 rather than containing any elements). They have some of the craziest, funniest plots. Coincidences abound. It gave me the chance to re-read Mary Jo's The Rake, one of my most favorite books ever, which had a more solid plot with a great villain, than some of the other flights of fancy.

My favorite read of the month was a book recommended on this blog, This Crumbling Pageant. I now want the next book right away.

I'm preparing a proposal for work, so a lot of time has been spent reading books on military assistance. One of the most interesting was the Soviet-Afghan War, a collection of translated Russian General Staff papers on the conduct of the war, the decision to reduce aid, the subsequent decline of the Afghan state, and the decision to end its assistance.

[Jenny]

I have just finished Grace Burrowes' latest book The Duke's Disaster and enjoyed it. She is an author who is able to move from era to era, i.e. Regency, Victorian and present with ease. Now I will go and find Margaret McPhee's latest as recommended and read that. What would I do without all these recommendations?

[Nicola Cornick]

Oh, I see. In that case it sounds very authentic! Yes, I agree about female authors writing men as women might wish them to be. That's part of the appeal to a lot of readers, I think.

[Nicola Cornick]

I love her books, Vicki. Enjoy!

[Nicola Cornick]

I love old school romances and their entertaining plots, Shannon. I have quite a number on my bookshelves. Mind you I always think Robert Louis Stevenson is the master of the co-incidence. In St Ives I loved that the hero became a prisoner of war just down the road from the house owned by the grandfather he hadn't seen for 30 years!

[Nicola Cornick]

I hope you enjoy the Margaret McPhee book, Jenny!

[KathyK]

Hello All: I hope that you will not give up on the Liad series because of Fledgling. It is not the best one, though it tells the story of an important character as a child. Later books about Theo are more gripping. What I love about the Liad series is the intersection of the cultures and how this causes misunderstandings. I have purchased several book recommended by the wenches and not been disapointed.

[Susan/DC]

I read Josephine Tey's "The Daughter of Time" at an impressionable age (my early teens) and have not been able to see a production of Shakespeare's Richard III since. Loved the book and how she got her contemporary detective to investigate the historical mystery.

Also want to thank you for the monthly round-ups of what you're reading. They've been bad for my wallet but good for my reading pleasure. Discovered new authors such as Imogen Robertson through the Wenches, as well as new books by favorite authors. Please keep up the good work, both writing your own books and passing along the name of other favorites.

[Nicola Cornick]

Hi Kathy! Many thanks for your comments about the Liad Series and I am glad you have enjoyed some of our recommendations. I know we all enjoy hearing of books people have liked. It's a great way to find a variety of interesting stuff (and to empty my bank account!)

[Nicola Cornick]

LOL, you and me both, Susan! I wish there were more historical mysteries examined in that way. Or perhaps there are and I haven't come across them? The only other one I remember reading is "The Wench is Dead" by Colin Dexter as part of the Morse series.

[Sue W. McCormick]

You tempt me, oh you tempt me! I have read and enjoyed many of the rereads mentioned above. And I am tempted to try some of the others. Most recently I have been reading several series by one of my favorited authors: The Family Genius Series, The Rebellious Sons series (a new one just came out), and Mystic Island. Maybe you know the author _ Patricia Rice?

Patricia mentioned a book by Angie Fox. I haven't read any of her books as yet, because she doesn't write in an area that interests me much. But I HAVE met Angie often, she is a very vivacious, interesting author. She often attends the St. Louis area regional Science Fiction Convention, called Archon. I enjoy attending panels with Angie.

[Patricia Rice]

Sue, what a lovely way for me to start the day, thank you! I'm thrilled that you're enjoying the series, including the mysteries!

The word wenches all know each other, even though we may live on different continents. It's difficult for us to get together all at once, but we keep threatening to do it. Then we'll hog the blog with photos so readers can see how wenches party. :)

Isn't Angie great fun? If you enjoy mysteries, you might like her new series. Take a peek of her excerpt and see.