What We're Reading in September

Nicola here, introducing the Wenches' monthly "What We're Reading" feature, which, this month is a "What We're Watching" as well! 

Anne: I've had a pretty busy time in the last month and, apart from some rereads of old favorites, the only book of any note I've read recently is Together by Julie Cohen. A friend told me about this book, saying that it was about a romance, but was written backwards, starting at the end of a couple's life and gradually working backwards to when they first met. I was intrigued, so I bought it.

In the working backwards, the reader begins to put clues together —it's not a murder mystery, but there is a big secret to be discovered. As the cover blurb says, "Their love was unstoppable . . . Their life was a lie."

It's been a big bestseller, and I found it quite a compelling read, but in the end I'm still not sure what I think. But certainly worth a read.

From Pat: 

MORNING GLORY, Diana Peterfreund based on motion picture by Aline Brosh McKenna. I seldom watch movies so I never saw the original screenplay that this book was based on. The screenwriter has also done films like THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, so you know the kind of chicklitty women’s fiction with humor and strong characters I’m talking about in MORNING GLORY. In this one, Becky Fuller is a strong New Jersey woman who has grown up watching TV news with her father and has always dreamed of running a TV news show. When she was offered her dream, she quit college to grab it. She now has her own morning news show with all of four viewers, she figures. And then she gets laid off. In desperation, she takes a job where she’s set up to fail—and she runs with it. Becky does desperation well, and the writer makes us see that she’s determined to succeed for the sake of everyone else on her team and not just herself. In the process, she learns that her life shouldn’t be all about work, and even if she’s a giant failure in the relationship department, she can have romance if she’s willing to work at it the way she does her job. The book is warm and funny and moves along with the same kind of pace a good film should. A feel good story all the way around!

Nicola: I've been catching up on a few films this month and one that made a profound impression on my was PASSENGERS,, a Sci-Fi romance starring Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt. A spaceship travelling to establish a new colony on a distant planet is transporting 5000 passengers in hibernation pods on its 120 year journey but when it flies into an asteroid field the subsequent malfunction wakes one of the passengers, Jim Preston, 90 years early. The film raises plenty of big questions about both the moral dilemmas that we face and also what we do with our lives to give them meaning and purpose. it's also an adventure and a romance with two very strong protagonists plus a cute sidekick (no spoilers!) and ulimately a thought-provoking, feel-good film with a happy ending.

From Mary Jo:

Okay, this might seem to be Word Wench nepotism, but my great reads for the month are the Lady Arianna mysteries by Andrea Penrose.  I've known Andrea since we were Signet Regency writers together and have read her books under various pseudonyms, and they've all been good.  I applauded her entry into mystery because it seemed to be a great place to spread her wings and go more deeply into areas that interest her.

But I'm an erratic mystery reader.  There have been times when I've read tons of mysteries, and then long spells will go by when I'll read none.  But having read and really enjoyed Murder on Black Swan Lane, first in Andrea's new Regency mystery series, I decided that the Lady Arianna Regency mysteries would make great reading on my recent vacation.  And they were! 

The protagonists, Lady Arianna and Lord Saybrook, are fascinating, twisty characters.  Though the daughter of an earl, Arianna had a really dangerous and scary upbringing in the Caribbean after her father's exile and subsequent murder.  She is tough, dangerous, and wants revenge for her father's murder.  She has also become a skilled chef, expert on chocolate, and a master of disguise. 

The first book, Sweet Revenge, begins with her return to London from the Indies.  Her quest for justice goes seriously awry when one of her exquisite chocolate desserts is served to the Prince Regent--and he keels over, poisoned.  Arianna must go on the run, and her path swiftly crosses that of Lord Saybrook, a battle weary and opium addicted former army intelligence officer who has spent years on the Peninsula.  He's half Spanish, a connoisseur of chocolate with a palate as sophisticated as Arianna's, and he has his own portfolio of dangerous skills.

Reluctant allies who are extremely wary of each other, they must work together to find the truth about the Regent's attempted assassination and what lies behind.  Yet there is attraction, a slowly growing trust, and mutual appreciation for their unconventional abilities.  Plus, a shared love of chocolate and fine cooking.  (I love when they go off on the merits of a new spice she's found in the market. <G>) 

The second book, The Cocoa Conspiracy, sends them off to the Congress of Vienna to prevent a disastrous assassination plot, and the third book, Recipe for Treason, sends them to Scotland in search of a traitor.  I love the characters, including the friends and allies they gather.  The pace is fast with lots of action and the plotting is meticulous.  And though Arianna and Saybrook still have their secrets and wariness, their relationship gradually grows and deepens.  I hope to see many more stories about their adventures!

Andrea/Cara: 

My history read of the month was Valiant Ambition by Nathaniel Philbrick, a fascinating warts-and-all look at the American Revolution through the career arcs of Generals George Washington and Benedict Arnold (for those of you unfamiliar with America’s history, Arnold's name has become synonmous with “dirty, rotten scoundrel” in America as he tried to sell out the important fort at West Point to the British, which might have turned the course of the war.) Philbrick paints a riveting picture of two brilliant. patriotic men, each with character flaws, and how they reacted to the difficult challenges of both battlefield stresses and the constant squabbling of the Continental Congress, whose grudges and regional self-interests put the ideals of the revolution at risk.

Philbrick gives a nuanced and sensitive portait of both men—one matured and grew in gravitas from the pressures, the unfair innuendos and his own mistakes, while the other couldn’t overcome his own fragile ego and cracked. He also gives a very interesting look at the inner workings of the politics of the time—which dims a bit of the luster of the band-of-brothers "Founding Fathers” myth. (I’m not sure whether I was reassured or appalled to learn that from the very beginning, politics could be really ugly in this country and yet we somehow survived!) For those interested in American history, I highly recommend it.

My fiction read was An Echo of Murder, the latest book in Ann Perry’s long-running historical mystery series featuring William Monk. I always enjoy Perry’s work as she always touches on such interesting elemental facets of human nature. Though the books are set in Victorian times, they resonate with themes that are revelvant and thought-provoking for the present—this book revolves around a hate crime against an immigrant community in London.

Now as usual we'd like it if you share your reading and watching recommendations from this month and help our TBR piles to grow even higher!

Comments

[Mary T]

I just finished re-reading Mary Balogh's Mistress Series. The first two books were written around 2000 and the last one is a prequel that she wrote about 10 years later at the request of her readers. Ms. Balogh is always a comfort read for me. I guess I've needed that lately.

I also just finished reading two books by Eva Ibbotson - MAGIC FLUTES and THE COUNTESS BELOW STAIRS. I first heard of her in your "What We're Reading" blog last month. Both books have almost a fairy tale quality about, but I enjoyed them very much. Thank you to whoever mentioned her.

[Kareni]

Over the past month I've read ~

— Mary Jo Putney’s historical romance Once a Rebel; it was a pleasant read. It was enjoyable to read a historical romance from the regency era that was predominantly set in America and to hear about the war of 1812 from (primarily) a very sympathetic British perspective.
— Midnight Curse (Disrupted Magic Book 1) by Melissa F. Olson. I’m not quite sure I understand the use of the number 1 above since I’ve previously read and enjoyed several books about the main character in this book. I enjoyed this one, too; it’s an urban fantasy.
— I quite enjoyed Bone to Pick by TA Moore which I’d describe as a mystery with some elements of romance. The leads are an FBI agent and a K-9 dog handler.
— St. Nacho’s by Z.A. Maxfield. This is a male/male love story that I also very much enjoyed; it happens to be currently free to Kindle readers.
— The First Snowdrop by Mary Balogh. This is an early book by Mary Balogh published in 1986. I found the hero decidedly unheroic — he came across as a spoiled young man that said, I’m still glad to have read the book.
— The Cat’s Meow by Lucius Parhelion. This free novella was reviewed on the Dear Author site and is rated as a recommended read; it’s a 1930s era male/male romance. It’s quite tame. The review has a link to the site where you can obtain a free copy.
— The Invasion of Tork (Tork and Adam Book 1) by Claire Davis and Al Stewart. This is a contemporary story featuring two young men. I’d describe Tork as mentally troubled; he is also intelligent and homeless. Adam is volunteering at a homeless shelter and is a decidedly unsympathetic character when the story begins. Both change during the course of the story.
— See Jane Score (Chinooks Hockey Team Book 2) by Rachel Gibson. This was a re-read; it’s an enjoyable (2003) contemporary romance featuring a hockey player and a journalist/writer.

— I finished another early Mary Balogh historical romance, Red Rose, published in 1986. I found the hero somewhat unheroic though perhaps he was simply a man very much of his time. In spite of that, I’m happy to have read a new to me Mary Balogh book.
— I’ve finished a couple of male/male romances that I read for a challenge on another site involving choosing a book based on its cover. The first was Bone to Pick by TA Moore. I enjoyed this mystery and its cover. I hope that the author will write more books featuring Javi (an FBI agent), Cloister (a K-9 dog handler), and Bourneville (the dog). The story ended with a happy for now so there is lots of room for the men’s relationship to grow. There were also questions left unanswered about the characters’ pasts which I’d like to see answered.
The second was Back to You by Chris Scully. This was a contemporary romance with a strong mystery element. I found the cover art of this book to be quite clever. The title is reflective of the book’s content, but it can also be a play on words and the cover art takes advantage of that fact by showing us a person’s back. I enjoyed the story of a man returning to him hometown after some twenty years away and the relationship he develops with the man who was his childhood best friend. I’d happily read more by this author.
— A Scrying Shame (Blood Visions Paranormal Mysteries Book 1) by Donna White Glaser. This was a quick read but not a story I recommend if you have an issue about crime scenes or blood.
— More Than Luck (Legendary Pairs Book 2) by Casey Cameron; This is a May/December romance featuring two men; I enjoyed it.
— They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera; a young adult novel which has an intriguing premise. Anyone who is to die receives a phone call between midnight and three of that day with the news; they are not told when or how they will die. The story centers around two young men (17 and 18) who connect through an app called Last Friend and details their Last Day.
— I re-read Making Faces by Amy Harmon. Once again, it had me crying. It’s really a lovely story.

— The Necromancer’s Dance (The Beacon Hill Sorcerer Book 1) by SJ Himes which I enjoyed but not as much as I liked the author’s Wolfkin Saga books. That said, I’d like to read the next book in this series.
— the novella Blood on Sand by Ofelia Gränd. This was a curious paranormal read that was both intriguing and repugnant; it featured a lizard shifter and a werewolf. In case you’re interested, it’s currently free for Kindle readers.
— re-read A Dragon’s Family Album: A Collection of the Elder Races by Thea Harrison. FYI this collection containing two novellas and a story is currently free to Kindle readers. The collection features characters that are showcased in the author’s Dragon Bound.
— for my book group I read The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg which I quite enjoyed.
— Empyrean (The Leron Series Book 1) by Nicole L. Bates. This was a pleasant science fiction romance, but I had hoped for a little something more. That said, I did read all 492 pages rather than cast it aside, so ….
— On another site, I’m participating in a challenge to read a self-published work; I read several.
— If It Ain’t Love by Tamara Allen. FYI: currently free to Kindle readers.
— Maps (Life According to Maps Book 1) by Nash Summers
— Dead In L.A. (L.A. Paranormal Book 1) by Lou Harper
— Te Quiero (Falling for You Book 1) by Suki Fleet

— a rather disappointing male/male science fiction romance, In His Majesty’s Service by Elizabeth Silver and Jenny Urban; I persevered and finished it because it was lent to me by an online acquaintance. I will not be in a hurry to read more by these authors.
— I’ve begun reading a new to me author whose books I’ve very much enjoyed ~ Anne Cleeland. I read Murder In Thrall, Murder in Retribution (twice), Murder in Hindsight, and Murder in Containment. I’m now reading the fifth book in the series — Murder in All Honour. These are Scotland Yard mysteries with a strong romance element; they feature Doyle, who is Irish and a low level detective and Acton, a peer who is a higher ranked detective. She has a gift of knowing truth, and he is a stalker and more.

[MaryJoPutney]

Mary T, Anne Gracie and I have both burbled regularly about our love for Eva Ibbotson's books. I'm so glad you enjoyed those stories, too.

[Anne Gracie]

Mary, I'm so pleased you enjoyed them. You might want to read the interview I did with Eva Ibbotson some years back.
http://wordwenches.typepad.com/word_wenches/2009/06/meet-eva-ibbotson.html

If the link doesn't work, do a search for Ibbotson on the wench site, the left hand column.

[Anne Gracie]

Wow, Kareni — what a collection. Thanks for sharing.

Those early Mary Balogh's are interesting aren't they? She has a few unheroic heroes, but she usually manages to redeem them. My favorite hero-redeemed story of hers is Dancing with Clara, where the hero is more or less the villain of the in the previous book in the series.

[Mary T]

Thank you Anne. What an interesting post. I googled Ms. Ibbotson's name and I see that she died about a year after this interview. How fortunate you were to be able to interview her.

[Minna]

I just finished reading A Street Cat Named Bob By James Bowen (it's now a movie, too), which is about "a man on the streets and the ginger cat who adopts him".
Another book I read is The Prince, the Princess and the Perfect Murder By Andrew Rose. It's a book about Edward, the Prince of Wales, his affair with a French courtesan and the letters he stupidly wrote to her and which helped her to get away with murder years later (This was also turned into a documentary called Edward VIII Murderous Mistress). And of course I read the new in Death book By J.D. Robb.

[Annette Naish]

I just finished the Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan. I loved the book as much for its flaws as for its perfections.

Nina works for a library system run by people who have no feelings for books. She is about to be dumped from her job and she follows her dream of opening a bookshop. It is in a van and she moves to Scotland to make her dream come true.

Ms Colgan likes human beings and she makes most of the humans she creates likable for the reader.

[Quantum]

Just finished Rosanne Bittner's latest 4-book 'Outlaw Hearts' series about love and hardship amongst early settlers in the American West .... a gripping 5-star read if you like historical Westerns.

Delighted to add MJP's audio book 'Once a Rebel' to the TBR ... for the next 'What We're Reading' post. 😊

[Andrea Penrose]

I really MUST read Ibbotson! Somehow it keeps getting buried in the TBR pile

[Andrea Penrose]

Kereni, you always make me feel like a slug! What a wonderfully varied list. So many interesting-sounding books.

[Andrea Penrose]

The Westerns sound very interesting, Quantum. They're not usually my cup of tea, but I can see how done well, they'd be very riveting. Will put them on my list.

[Anne Gracie]

Mary, I felt very blessed to have done that interview with her. Glad you enjoyed it.

[Karin]

I too read "Magic Flutes" by Ibbotson! It was lighter than "The Morning Gift" (no Nazis!) and I found it absolutely wonderful. I got extra enjoyment out of it because of having a Viennese mother and growing up around a lot of Austrians. So all the references to food, music, even personalities, etc. were so familiar, as well as understanding the German language bits. It was quite a wallow for me, triggering all the pleasant memories from childhood. And the last couple of chapters I had to read twice, because the HEA and the way it comes about is so great.
I read the new Lady Arianna novella by Andrea Penrose, "The Stolen Letters", and it was fun to visit with her and Lord Saybrook again. My only complaint is, NOT ENOUGH CHOCOLATE.
I also read "Lord Sebastian's Secret" which is the 4th book in Jane Ashford's Duke's sons series, and my favorite so far-really very enjoyable.
I am now reading Loretta Chase's "Vixen in Velvet" and what a delightful writer she is!

[Nicola Cornick]

The Andrew Rose book sounds fascinating, Minna. I must pick that up. I hadn't heard of the case and it sounds very interesting.

[Nicola Cornick]

That sounds fabulous, Annette. Jenny Colgan's books are very good IMO. I like the fact that she can create flawed but likeable characters so well.

[Nicola Cornick]

Some wonderful recommendations there, Karin. Thank you! How lovely that the Eva Ibbotson book has so many resonances for you as well. That makes a book extra-special.

[Andrea Penrose]

yes, the Rose book sounds fascinating, Minna. Thanks!

[Andrea Penrose]

Ha! Thanks, Karin.
Be careful what you wish for—I plan on having the a new full-length Lady Arianna book out in early 2018!

[Janga]

It has been one of "those" weeks. Thus, I'm late posting on this thread, but since I try never to miss this favorite topic, I'll go ahead and trust I'm not sending my comment into the void. :)

I must do some Ibbotson rereads. I continue to read Christmas ARCs, although fewer historicals than I like. I've also recently read upcoming books from Kristan Higgins and Rachel Gibson. Higgins's Now That You Mention It is women's fiction rather than romance, but it has a romance thread with a wonderful, atypical hero. I loved it. Gibson's The Art of Running in Heels, the seventh in her Chinooks Hockey series, features the daughter of the leads in the first book in that series, Simply Irresistible (1998). I am a fan of second-generation tales, and even the covers of these two books suggest the connection.

I long ago lost track of Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity series but the first two books--Aunt Dimity's Death and Aunt Dimity and the Duke--are all-time favorites that I reread every few years. It was time for a reread. Aunt Dimity is still one of my favorite literary ghosts, and the romance threads in these two cozy mysteries are still delightful.

In non-fiction, I'm reading Comics and the US South, a fascinating collection of essays by scholars from a variety of disciplines who look at how core concerns in Southern Studies--history, memory, class, race, etc.--show up in comics form. A Poets.org post for Banned Books Week sent me back to Shel Silverstein's A Light in the Attic. I read that book often to two generations of little boys. The oldest are in their 40s now, and they still quote the closing lines of "They Put a Brassiere on the Camel" and howl with laughter:
They squeezed her into it, I’ll never know how,
They say that she looks more respectable now,
Lord knows what they’ve got in mind for the cow,
Since they’ve put a brassiere on a camel.

[Kareni]

Here's at least one person in the void seeing your post, Janga.

I'll be looking for that Rachel Gibson book you mentioned as it sounds like a fun read.

[Alice Mathewson]

Thank you SO much for the Eva Ibbotson recommendation. I had read some of her books with my children but had no idea about her 'romances'. The best kind I have read in a long time and yes, up there with Georgette Heyer - bliss!

[jeanette dilts]

Not reading as much at the moment, but did just finish Grace Burrowes' et al How to Find a Duke in Ten Days. I enjoyed the novellas - the premise as well as the characters. Strong women loved for their intelligence and skills rather than whatever. I also enjoy Grace's books for the additions to my vocabulary (g) which might come from her law background.