by Mary Jo
As usual, we're reading quite a range of books!
From Joanna Bourne:
I’m always happy to read Mary Balogh. This one is Only a Kiss. Very fine. The slow development of the relationship delights me. As always, the romance comes to us in growing trust and understanding between the two protagonists. This one is about letting go of past pain and guilt and finding new love. It’s a gently joyful book for all that as these two find each other.
And next up -- Beautiful writing in this one by Susanna Kearsley. Named of the Dragon. Just utterly scrumptious. We’ve got a contemporary set in Wales on the coastline and
Prophetic dreams and ancient myths of Merlin parallel a mystery in the modern world. What’s real and what isn’t? This is Women’s Fiction more than Romance, but there’s still a satisfying love story inside. And Kearsley is always so lyrical. I will follow her anywhere for the beauty of the language.
Pat says:
I've only read one book that I've finished this month, aside from one recommended last month, so this is it:
Call me slow, but I just got around to reading Robert Galbraith's (aka JK Rowling) mystery The Cuckoo's Calling, the first in the Cormoran Strike series. I was so horribly disappointed by her first mystery, The Casual Vacancy, that I didn't have a lot of incentive to try again. But Cormoran sounded like my kind of hero, so I borrowed it from the library. I may have to break down and buy the next in the series (there are already two more, and they're big hunkers!) because I quite enjoyed it.
Cormoran is flawed in so many ways it's hard to keep track. He's a military vet who had his leg blown off. He has a long term love affair with a wealthy model who has just cheated on him--again. He's homeless and living in the hovel of a detective agency he's just started instead of staying in the service, and his business is about to go belly-up. And his flaws are the reason he's in this shape.
The book offers fairly flawless clues, except this is a psychological mystery and the reader needs Cormoran's understanding of human nature to put the pieces together--with the help of his trusty girl Friday. The temp he hires doesn't play a vital role, but their interaction is so good that, even though she's engaged, we see hope for the future. Maybe. Give it a try!
Andrea/Cara here:
I’ve been reading something a little different this month—a very quirky little novel called Love In Lowercase. Samuel, a brainy professor of literature, is an introvert who, by his admission, lives a very mundane, boring life, rarely straying from the familiar comforts of his apartment except to see the occasional art film at the local cinema.
Then on New Year’s Day, a strange sound on his front door compels him to open it and in strolls a stray cat. This unexpected intrusion on his set routine can’t be tolerated. But the cat has other ideas. And before Samuel quite realizes what’s happening, the little intruder triggers a string of unexpected events that suddenly has Samuel interacting with the outside world—with zany and hilarious results. From his upstairs neighbor who needs help in writing a philosophy book on the magic of everyday life, to a sexy veterinarian, to a wacky writer who is "nostalgic for the future”—and ultimately to a chance reconnection with a girl he fell in love with when he was eight years old, it’s a delightful journey of self-discovery interspersed with musing on language, particle physics, the nature of reality, and classical music.
And of course love! The subtitle sums up its essence rather nicely: sometimes love is hiding in the smallest characters. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I found it delightfully charming.
Nicola now:
Recently I’ve been catching up with some of the books that were recommended as part of our recent Overlooked Treasures blog. First I read Again by Kathleen Gilles Seidel. I thought it was a beautiful read. There was such depth to this book and the characters felt very real. I was in awe. Then I moved on to The Diary of Isobelle by Mary Lide, another writer whose stories are both sensual and beautifully written. I had a wonderful time with both these “retro reads”!
After that I had a glom on Ruth Rendell’s Wexford crime series and I’m currently working my way through them all. Her observations on human nature are very sharp and her descriptions so elegant. Alongside this I’m also reading Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld. Eligible is part of the Austen Project, where contemporary authors re-write Jane Austen’s novels for a modern audience. I’ve read some of the other novels in the project: Sense and Sensibility by Joanna Trollope and Val McDermid’s version of Northanger Abbey but this is my favourite so far. It cleverly updates Pride and Prejudice with a light touch and modern nuance, and it's very clever and entertaining.
Anne's choice:
I recently read a debut book by Lucy Parker called Act Like It, a delightful romantic comedy set in the London theatre scene. A few laughs, some good romance and a few lump-in-throat moments. I'm looking forward to her second book.
From Mary Jo:
Act Like It is also my choice for the month! This is not a coincidence since I discovered the book on Anne's blog. <G> I immediately went to Amazon, read a couple of pages, and clicked "BUY!" A debut book by New Zealander Lucy Parker, as Anne said it's set in London's West End theatre district. The story features cheerful actress Lainie Graham, who is starring in a Restoration drama with her recently-ex-boyfriend, Will, and the amazingly irritating and arrogant Richard Troy, who plays the villain.
Richard's temper is causing such bad publicity that the theater management twists Lainie's arm to fake-date Richard to improve his reputation. She reluctantly agrees--and slowly starts to find that there is quite a bit to like about Richard. In his turn, Richard discovers that the curvy redhead he vaguely thought of as Jessica Rabbit has a sharp wit and a personality, and that he feels oddly happier when she's around…
I found parts of it laugh out loud funny, like Jennifer Crusie. I really liked the romance and setting as well as the fact that they both tended to act like adults when things got tough. Lucy Parker is definitely a writer to watch.
I've been reading other books as well. One is the Overlooked Treasure, The Dear Colleague,by Frances Murray, a witty marriage of convenience. Hard to find, but fun. I also greatly enjoyed our Jo Beverley's The Viscount Needs a Wife. Written with her usual style and intelligence, it touches on some issues I've not seen in other Regencies.
So what have you been reading? What was fun and worthy of note? Please share!
Mary Jo