What We Are Reading

Andrea/Cara here, With the recent unoffical start of summer here in the northern hemisphere, it's time to start filling the carry-alls with great beach reads! (And for those of you heading into winter, it's always good to have a pile of good reads next to the armchair and quilt for those long chilly nights.) We have been reading a wide variety—as usual— over the past few weeks, and have a number of titles to share with you. And we hope you'll share the books that have tickled your fancy! This monthly feature is always such a fun collaboration with our readers. So, off we go!

Nicola:
I love stories set in the English Civil War and wish there were more of them so I was thrilled to hear that HWW Louise Allen had updated and reissued an old Mills & Boon Historical called The Master of Winterbourne. It’s a richly detailed, complex story that is sensual and romantic, and at the same time it has a fair bit of intrigue packed in and some beautifully drawn, deep characters. Louise really brings out their divided loyalties and conflicts. Highly recommended.

Another book I absolutely loved this month is French Kissing by Lynne Shelby. Anna Mitchel has been writing letters to her French penfriend, Alexandre Tourville, for fifteen years, but hasn’t seen him since an exchange trip when they were at school and he was a shy geek. When Alex has the opportunity to work in London, Anna offers him a place to stay but is astounded that he has changed out of all recognition and is now tall, broad-shouldered and gorgeous, and has just broken up with his long-term girlfriend.
 
French Kissing is totally charming. The characters are great, the backgrounds of London and Paris beautifully described, and the style of writing really engaging. It’s a fun and very happy-making read!

Anne:
My big glom for this month was the "Trouble" series by Susan Sey -- a fun contemporary series about the three Blake brothers, which I read on the recommendation of a friend. It took me a while to get into the first book -- the premise was a bit silly -- but the good writing kept me going and I ended up devouring the second half of the book, and promptly bought the second and third book in the series. My favorite was the second book, but you absolutely need to read the first book—Taste For Trouble —first, because it sets up the second one, and if you skip the first, you won't enjoy the second one as much. Trust me on that.

My other recommended read for the month is John Scalzi's Agent To The Stars. Mary Jo and Pat have mentioned him several times before, and so I tried his first book, which he originally wrote "to see if he could write a novel" and gave away for free on his website. It was later taken up by publishers -- it's a fascinating story and is in the foreword.
Agent To The Stars is a hoot—ridiculous, funny, perceptive and very clever. Some real laugh-out-loud moments. I've now ordered several more of his books.

Pat:
Be Frank With Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson is not a romance, although there are hints of a couple of love stories. I’d call it a slice of life type of book, but it certainly isn’t a slice of any normal life. Still, the author makes it feel so real that I won’t argue with the illusion. The protag is Alice Whitley, a 25-year-old NYC assistant editor sent to handhold a reclusive bestselling CA author until she finishes the novel she’s promised to write for decades. Instead of typing the book into a computer, as Alice thought she would be doing, she ends up babysitting a 10-year-old boy who is smarter than “99.7% of the population.” He’s also eccentric and touching beyond the wildest imagination. By the end, our self-absorbed assistant editor is a much better, if still flawed, person. I sank into this book and didn’t want to come out, which hardly ever happens anymore. Recommended!

Mary Jo:
I have been deficient in my duty:  Though it came out in March, I haven't yet talked about this year's Patricia Briggs book, Fire Touched, #9 in her Mercy Thompson urban fantasy series.  Briggs has done an amazing job of keeping consistently high quality through so many books, and does it mostly by her marvelous characterizations.
 
Mercedes Thompson is a Volkswagen mechanic in the Tri-Cities area of Washington State, half Native-American--and a coyote shifter.  In a world where there are werewolves, vampires, fae, and Others, Mercy isn't particularly powerful, but like her coyote side, she's quick and clever and very good at surviving.  She's also utterly loyal to her friends even if reckless courage is required.
 
It's worth reading the books in order, starting with Moon Bound, just to see the relationships develop, including a lovely romance that just gets better and better.  The plotting is original and always interesting.  In Fire Touched, for example, the book starts with Mercy silently enduring the blandishments of a multi-level marketer. <G>
 
Here's a quote from an Amazon review that gives you an idea of what happens next: "this book starts out with a rush of action in a battle with a troll which was awesome but it was just to setup a much more involved plot that takes us places we have never been before in this series and turns a few things we have believed in the last couple of books are now portrayed in a bit of a different light."
 
Most urban fantasies are too violent and gory for me, but not Patricia Briggs' books.  Yes, bad things can happen, but I know it will all end up well. And I'm already craving next year's book!
 
Andrea/Cara
In response to the tumultuous primary season, I finally got around to a book that has sat for too long on my TBR pile: Team of Rivals, by Doris Kearns Goodwin is an award-winning historical magnum opus on Abraham Lincoln and the men he chose to serve in his cabinet during our country’s greatest crisis. It’s a fascinating work, part biography, part political process, highlighting how men of different ambitions, temperaments and yes, flaws, managed to put personal feelings aside to serve what they felt was the higher good. I’ve always admired Lincoln, but this in-depth portrait of a complex man who combined wisdom, humility and a love for ideas and language, gave me an even deeper appreciation of what a true hero he was. And umm, while avoiding any political commentary, I shall say that it should be required reading for ALL politicians.

I’ve also picked up Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stott, a very intriguing mystery set in present-day Cambridge that centers around a mysterious death and an incomplete manuscript on the life of Sir Isaac Newton. An author friend of the dead woman is asked by her son—who is the author’s former lover— to complete the book on Newton that his mother has been obsessed with finishing. She accepts . . .and then strange things begin to happen. It’s got a touch of paranormal as the heroine feels drawn mentally back to the 17th century in search of answers to several unsolved murders in the university town. Was Newton responsible? And is that why her lover’s mother was found drowned—because she was close to unraveling the truth? It’s very well-written, and weaves very interesting psychological portraits as the heroine deals with both the past and the present. I highly recommend it to those who enjoy intellectual conundrums.

So, what have YOU been reading lately? Please share all your special finds. (I have my pencil poised to start a LONG list!)

Comments

[Mary T]

Just finished reading HEARTSONG COTTAGE by Emily March. I don't read a lot of contemporary romance but I have enjoyed her Eternity Springs series.

Reading Tina Fey's BOSSY PANTS RIGHT now. She's a funny lady. Next up on my kindle is a new (to me) Barbara Metzger book - AUTUMN GLORY AND OTHER STORIES. Looking forward to a new Grace Burrowes (JACK) which will be released next week.

[Laurel Hawkes]

I'm re-reading "The Perfect Rake" by Anne Gracie, which will lead to the rest of the Perfect series. I keep thinking about the first time the heroine meets the rake, and I laugh. I decided it was time to enjoy it in all its details again.

[Susan Sey]

Thanks so much for the shout-out on my Blake brothers books! So glad you've enjoyed them! As for me, I just pounded through Wendy LaCapra's Vice, Scandal & Decadence series. Yum! And now it's on to Joan Kayse's The Patrician. It's a re-read for me but there are two other books in the series, & I'm a little obsessive about trilogies. I like to read 'em in order & all together. I once spent an entire year reading Nora Roberts' IN DEATH books from number one straight through twelve million...

[Andrea Penrose]

That's a great list. Barbara Metzger and Grace Burrowes are always on my TBR list. Haven't yet read the Tina Fey book, but imagine it's fun. And Emily March is a new-to-me author, so will look forher books!
Thanks for sharing!

[Andrea Penrose]

LOVE that book. But then, love all of Anne's books!

[Andrea Penrose]

Susan, I tend to glom through a series too. A while back, went through all the Amelia Peabody books. Such fun!

[Helen]

Hello

I have just read The Summer Bride Anne Gracie what a fabulous story truly I had been eagerly awaiting Daisy's story and it was worth the wait I absolutely loved it. I have also been reading the M&B Medical series The Hollywood Hills which s fabulous and I have now started book 3 in Louisa Cusack's new series Husband series these are erotic and I am enjoying them :)

Have Fun
Helen

[Janice]

I just finished Silver Screen Saucers by Robbie Graham, an entertaining book on the interrelation between science fiction movies and the UFO phenomenon; Infamous Players by Peter Bart, an account of the goings-on at Paramount during its resurgence of the 1960s during the go-go conglomerate era; The Wicked Duke by Madeline Hunter; Only Enchanting by Mary Balogh; the Fall of Poppies anthology. In progress, How We Lived Then by Norman Longacre. For review, Cressida by Clare Darcy and Cousin Harry by Paula Marshall. On the top of the TBR: Make Me by Lee Child, A Hero of France by Alan Furst, Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky. Bedtime kindle reading is a reread of Red Rose by Mary Balogh.

[Kareni]

Books recently read and enjoyed include ~

— Sonata for a Scoundrel by Anthea Lawson. This is a historical romance that I found while shelving as a volunteer at the library. [The danger/downside of volunteering is that one ends up taking many books home; the upside is that one can read the blurbs without having one’s wages docked.] I may well read the author’s other book which was on the shelf.
— the new adult contemporary romance Jockblocked by Jen Frederick. It’s evidently the second in a series, but I found it to stand alone well.
— I also re-read with pleasure Marie Force’s Fatal Affair: Book One of the Fatal Series as well as the prequel to the series One Night With You. These are romance suspense. One Night With You is currently free to Kindle readers.
— I also read the prequel short story Girl From Above 0.5 (Prequel): Falling (The 1000 Revolution) by Pippa DaCosta after hearing a very good review. I was left somewhat under-impressed. I do have the fist book in the series and might continue on to see if I like that one more. The series was likened to Firefly. Girl From Above 0.5 is currently free to Kindle readers.
— I finished Nora Roberts’ latest book The Obsession; I enjoyed it, if one can say that about a book featuring serial killers. I figured out the current day killer’s identity about halfway through the book, so I was pleased with myself.
— the contemporary romance Built: A Saints of Denver Novel by Jay Crownover.
— the illustrated account Something New: Tales from a Makeshift Bride by Lucy Knisley. I’ve read several other books by this author/illustrator and enjoyed them all. Having recently attended my nephew’s wedding (and having heard some tales of the associated angst), this was a timely read.
— and currently reading with pleasure Jo Goodman’s latest western historical romance

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks Laurel — I did have fun with that book. :)

[Anne Gracie]

Susan, I adored your "Trouble" series -- thank you for giving me some great laughs and some heartfelt moments as well. More please :)

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks so much Helen -- I'm so glad you enjoyed Daisy's story. :)

[Anne Gracie]

What a great list, Janice. I'm looking forward to the day after I finish my current book and reward myself with a huge reading glom like this.

[Anne Gracie]

Karen, what a dream volunteer position. Librarian was to be my second career choice -- it slipped down from first position when I learned that it wasn't all reading and stamping and covering books. ;) Thanks for sharing your reads with us.

[Andrea Penrose]

Yes, a really great list,Janice. I'm hoping to get some down time soon this summer for a few quiet days of just, reading, reading reading!

[Andrea Penrose]

Kareni, I'd be a hopeless volunteer—they would have to send a search party into the shelves and find me curled up in some corner with a good book!

I love getting so many new-to-me authors recommended. Thank you!

[Sophie Weston]

Some great reading ideas here. Have taken note of six Must Reads already.

I've just finished an impressive Regency Jim, but not as we know it - The Detective and the Devil by Lloyd Shepherd. A real page turner, across three time periods, with a plot that hinges on the bridge between science and magic plus big business in the shape of the East India Company, a good man under threat in the person of the Detective, a murder and one of the most intriguing and touching married love stories I've ever read. Couldn't put it down.

[Constance]

I can see my reading pile growing higher by the moment as I read all these great suggestions! The Summer Bride was a terrific wrap up to a wonderfully romantic and witty series--I think we were all rooting for a happy ending for Daisy from the very first chapter of the first book! In addition, a lot of my favorite series authors have had recent releases, and I've finished Journey to Munich, the latest Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear, and the latest Donna Leon mystery, The Waters of Eternal Youth. Both move their characters' ongoing stories forward in ways that make me impatient for the next books. Finally, I loved Helen Simonson's The Summer Before the War -- I had haunted book sites waiting for her next book, after the lovely Major Pettigrew story, and The Summer was worth the wait!

[Teresa Broderick]

I've just finished The Nurses of Steeple Street by Donna Douglas. It's the first in a new series and I can't wait for the next one. It'a about district nurses and their training but they all have secrets too. A great read. I've also just finished The Black Moth by Georgette Heyer and Lady Susan by Jane Austen for challenges on GoodReads. Heyer is a particular favourite of mine and hey who doesn't love Jane Austen.
I also read A Moment Forever by Cat Gardiner. I received an ARC for an honest review of the book. A truly fantastic read!! It had everything. Every emotion you could think of. A brilliant love story that brought tears to my eyes. Well worth a read.

[Karin]

I have just started reading "Zemindar" by Valerie Fitzgerald. Actually rereading, because I'm sure I read it a couple of decades ago. It's an 800 page saga, set in India in the British colonial era. The centerpiece of the book is the Mutiny and the Siege of Lucknow. The author's own grandmother lived through the Mutiny, and the author lived in Lucknow as a girl, where her father was stationed in the army. It seemed like the perfect book to sink into in the summertime.

[Karin]

Well, you've sold me on this one, Sophie. Unfortunately it does not appear to be available as an e-book!