Weekly Reading Round-Up
This has been an exceptionally good reading week. Here are my latest finds:
— Meredith Duran, A Lady’s Lesson in Scandal
I loved this book. As someone who cried over A Little Princess as a small child, I loved this tale of an Edwardian guttersnipe who finds out that she was stolen from her real family. The relationship between the protagonists was beautifully drawn. Definitely my favorite Duran so far.
— Tana French, Faithful Place
The third of Tana French’s Dublin-set mystery novels. I was trying to describe them to a friend, but couldn’t. There’s a literary, almost lyrical quality to them, even as they deal with Criminal Minds-esque murders.
— Julia Spencer-Fleming, In the Bleak Midwinter
Once I was in a murder mystery mood, I decided to go back and re-read the first of Julia Spencer-Fleming’s series about a priest and a police chief in a small New York town.
— Susan Elizabeth Philips, Natural Born Charmer
There may have been tears involved. Such a good book.
What have you been reading?
Farewell Miss Zukas by Jo Dereske. A good ending for the series. I am sorry to see it end.
I just finished reading The Little Stranger by Sara Waters. Sorry, I did NOT like it. Boring characters, way too wordy, story badly paced (and not nearly as scary as I had hoped), with no resolution.
BUT I am now reading The Door into Summer by Robert Heinlein. It is a hoot. His view of the future is a lot of fun. And he obviously was a cat person.
Although I don’t generally read Austen sequels, I decided to give Nachtsturm Castle by Emily C. A. Snyder a shot based on the reviews here. Henry Tilney was always my favorite of Austen’s heroes, so I thought it might be fun to revisit him and see how he was getting on his marriage with Catherine. I enjoyed the novella and thought the author did a great job with the dialogue and her characterizations of Henry and Catherine. The story was fast-paced and entertaining, albeit a little convoluted towards the end. I’m glad I gave Nachtsturm Castle a chance.
I was wondering if anyone had read any other Northanger Abbey sequels that they could recommend? Of course, I already know about the NA-style short story written by Lauren that will be released in Oct.
“Rules of Civility”…amazing, lyrical prose. If you love NYC, you’ll love this book.
“The Night Circus”…will make a great movie. Heard the screenwriter and director have already committed!
I am reading The Paris Wife: A Novel, by Paula McLain, and it’s wonderful. It’s about Ernest Hemingway and his first wife Hadley and their years together in Paris. It’s romantic and sad at the same time. I definitely recommend it.
i bought a few books recently at borders.
A Lady’s Lesson in Scandal as shown above…
Spymasters Lady– Very good, English spymaster meet a young girl who is a deadly spy in her own right and she works for the french… or so she thinks.
When Beauty tamed the beast -Eloisa James .. Seriously Dr. House from the tv show in like 1800’s. Clever but so reminiscent of house i knew him instantly which i am not sure works but i love the banter between the two main characters.
Minx- Julia Quinn – a girl raised in the country dresses like a guy manages the estate and is the new ward of a young man. I liked this one. A girl who drives the guy completely mad and makes him fall in love with her.
Lord of scoundrels- loretta chase good quirky with good banter and a rogue of a guy and a bluestocking female who upon being compromised by him.. comes to his house and shoots him point blank. lol That gets his attention.
Finished The amaranth enchantment last night- by berry. It was good, girl who lost everything combined with characters who come from other worlds a thief who complicates things and a prince who captures the heart of the leading lady. A take on Cinderella. probably written for teens but i liked it.
Half way through the third I-Team Novel, Hard Evidence, by Pamela Clare. Bought all five books of the series on a lark at the Borders sale and am thoroughly enjoying them. Fast pasted, great dialogue, (open door) romantic suspense thrillers.
In between the Clare novels I am reading the contemporary romance novels by Lisa Kleypas – Sugar Daddy, Blue-Eyed Devil (love Hardy Cates!!) and Smooth Talking Stranger.
I love to hear what everyone is reading!
I’m glad you liked the new Meredith Duran! I read Wicked Becomes You a few days ago and was far from impressed – definitely the least I’ve ever liked one of her books.
I love Natural Born Charmer. It’s one of those books that you know is going to be great, after reading the first page. I just finished reading an odd, but beautiful story, written by Barbara Metzger. The Hour Glass. I also read The Weird Sisters last weekend. Really good! I’m now enjoying rereading Mary Balogh’s A Summer to Remember.
I read The Help this week, and am working on Bill Bryson’s At Home. His explain-it-all books aren’t as funny as his memoirs but they are still fascinating and much funnier than they have a right to be.
The Help was amazing, and I finished it the day the film came out…so I saw it the day I finished reading. So good.
Many good reads for me this week too!! After reading Last Night’s Scandal, by Loretta Chase (very very funny, I’ll read Mr Impossible next, that you recommanded here), I read the last installment in Beth Patillo’s trilogy, The Dashwood Sisters Tell All, which was interesting and all right, but not as good as the two others in my opinion!
I’m currently making my way through The Secret of Chimneys by Dame Agatha… always a good read, love her books and her youngr (or less young) heroines! 🙂
I’m still reading The Help. I also read most of The Christmas Gift be jeanne Savery. I didn’t finish since I really didn’t like it and the H and h had no chemistry. I also read Arranged In Heaven by Sara Jarrod. Loved this one. Very hot when it comes to the bedroom, and the story is wonderful and very touching even if it is a little melodramatic.
I’m reading a fantastic manuscript. That’s pretty much all I read nowadays. Though not all are fantastic.
Went through a Candice Hern reading binge this week. Got through ‘A Proper Companion’, ‘A Change of Heart’, ‘An Affair of Honour’ and the novella ‘Desperate Measures’. Cute Regency romances in the style of Georgette Heyer. Have now started ‘Jane and the Damned’ by Janet Mullany.
For the King by Catherine Delors. I think that it was mentioned before, but I cannot remember. I chose it because it had a quote from you, Lauren, on the front and one from Elena Maria Vidal, writes one of my favorite blogs, on the back. Plus, I really enjoy novels about Napoleonic Paris. 🙂
I read For the King, good book.
Just finished The Toll Gate by Georgette Heyer. It is very funny!
Found a used copy of Tamlin by Patricia Dean which I’ve read atleast 5 times and I’m going to read it again!
Didn’t read anything, but wanted to comment on people reading some of my favorites, including the toll Gate by Georgette Heyer.
I also love the Secret of Chimneys by Christie. It is really good. I recommend it to everyone. @ Celine next you could read the sequel The Seven Dials Mystery.
Reading “Washington Square”. Scored a hard copy of “Mischielf” with my Christmas Borders card. Yippee~
Not much time for reading this week, but I finally started Vienna Waltz, by Teresa Grant. Really enjoying immensely, but the name change is driving me nutty…
Also A Rather
Ccharming Invitation, by C. A. Belmond
Both of these wonderful authors I found here, one more reason to be grateful to Lauren !
I just finished A Wife For Mr. Darcy by Mary Lydon Simonson. Having read numerous sequels, prequels, and “what-ifs,” I have failed yet to find a dud in any of them. This is a WINNER.
I am now thoroughly engrossed in Georgette Heyer read # 17: Friday’s Child. Unlike some of her other works that take a few pages to “set the table,” this one has been a page turner from the beginning and I have no earthly idea how it is going to turn out. Question: What’s your favorite Heyer? Answer: The one I’m reading at present!
Jeffrey,
My favorite G. Heyer’s:The Grand Sophy is the best. Frederica and The Civil Contract are also great stories.
@Am7 : I’ll come to The Seven Dials in due time, be sure of that :)! I’ve decided to (re)read all the books written by Dame Agatha, but in the chronological order of publication. Yeah, I know, I can be weird sometimes… 🙂 Next in my list is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (a reread, this one) 🙂
Hi Leslie: I also LOVED The Grand Sophy. Frederica and A Civil Contract are on my Heyer must-read list! Thanks…