Weekly Reading Round-Up
What with the food coma factor, I’m having a hard time remembering what I read yesterday, much less earlier in the week, but here’s an attempted recreation….
— Lori Wilde, The First Love Cookie Club
I was given this at RWA this summer, but it was July and this book looked decidedly Christmassy, so I saved it– and I’m so glad I did. There are swirling snowflakes, Christmas cookies, second chances and an adorable small child in want of a mother. There may have been some tearing up on the train as I was reading this.
— Liz Young, Fair Game
In the States, this is called A Promising Man (and About Time, Too)
(Side note: when British books are republished in the US, why do they give them such awful titles? Like changing Wendy Holden’s Pastures Nouveaux
Young does a brilliant job juggling side plots for her side characters, which are as much a part of the story as the main romance. In other words, she recreates a convincing sense of life in all its fullness, in a wonderfully exuberant way. In both the wider cast of characters and the tone, there’s a lot in common with Kristan Higgins’ books.
— Jill Shalvis, Simply Irresistible
This is also part of the RWA haul from this summer, saved for a more seasonable time of year. I’m just starting it now, so I’ll let you know how it goes.
What have you been reading?
I just finished The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides and really loved it. It was like a modern Regency/Victorian novel, complete with all those “Nooooo! Don’t fall in love with him, he’s awful!” moments that make reading things like Sense and Sensibility so fun.
Last weekend, I read the second installment of the India Black series by Carol K. Carr (India Black and the Widow of Windsor). I highly recommend these books—they’re witty and the heroine is fantastic.
For this weekend, I’m hunkering down with A Burial at Sea, the new Charles Finch. I’ve followed Charles Lenox mysteries from the beginning, and I can’t wait to see what he and his new wife get up to.
I just finished The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides and really loved it. It was like a modern Regency/Victorian novel, complete with all those “Nooooo! Don’t fall in love with him, he’s awful!” moments that make reading things like Sense and Sensibility so fun.
Last weekend, I read the second installment of the India Black series by Carol K. Carr (India Black and the Widow of Windsor). I highly recommend these books—they’re witty and the heroine is fantastic.
For this weekend, I’m hunkering down with A Burial at Sea, the new Charles Finch. I’ve followed the Charles Lenox mysteries from the beginning, and I can’t wait to see what he and his new wife get up to.
AGH! Sorry about the double post!
As for me, I read Mr Darcy’s Obsession, by Abigail Reynolds, one of her P&P variations (i love them all, but my favourite remains Impulse and Initiative through and through). I’m now making my way through Nora Robert’s latest book, The Next Always, which I’m pretty much liking! 🙂
Next in line: JAMMDI!
I am reading Definitely Not Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos. It’s about a 39 year old single mom competing in a Regency reality show in England. It’s a fun light hearted read.
Just finished “The Very Picture of You” by Isabel Wolff. Completely predictable but I really liked it.
Because my reading taste is sometimes sort of twisted, I’ve chosen the holiday break to re-read a bunch of old Anne Stuart books. I am deeply and passionately in love with her stuff. Her plots are so bizarre and her men are so dark. How she got away with writing this stuff is beyond me, but man, I wish someone would give her a new contract for romantic suspense.
Just finished First Grave on the Right, the first in a paranormal/chick lit series by Darynda Jones and I really liked it. The sassy heroine, Charley, is a grim reaper/detective, so she has lots of cops and ghosts in her life. Her love interest, one Reyes Farrow, gives a whole new meaning to “bad boy.” There are certain scenes between Charley and Reyes in the book that were so hot; I swear I saw steam rising up off the pages! The big reveal about who (or what) Reyes is in the final act is a doozy and I’m now dying to find out what will happen next.
Sadly I didn’t get much reading done this week what with friends visiting and a steampunk convention. No wait, that’s not sadly, that’s awesomely! I even had tea with Gail Carriger.
But I have been reading the newest Algonquin Round Table Mystery, You Might As Well Die. It’s just as wonderful as the first. A cozy mystery with all the wit of Dorothy Parker and the period feel of 1920s New York! (Giving away a copy on my blog next week).
I just read James Patterson’s The Christmas Wedding and it was a real cute love story.
Just started “Howard’s End” by Forster.
Jealous AmyN! To be able to read that again for a first time.
My reading list is all over the place this week. Finished the last book in the Inheritance cycle by Christopher Paolini. It was a nice ending to a fun YA fantasy series. The author didn’t take the easy route by having everyone get their happily-ever-after, but was more realistic and showed that even when the bad guy dies, problems remain.
After Inheritance, I read Villette by Charlotte Bronte. It’s been 5 years since I first read it, and got more out of it this time around (the ending didn’t annoy me like the first time, for example).
Now I’m a few chapters into Romola by George Eliot. For bedtime reading, I’m also dipping into two books on myths – one a more academic look at the origins and characteristics and myths, with comparisions; the other a straightforward compilation of myths from different countries.
I recently read “The Very Picture of You” It was like a soap opera! I really liked it. I love the part of London she writes about.
I just finished “A Rather Lovely Inheritance” by C. A. Belmond. I throughly enjoyed it! I’m looking forward to starting the sequel.
Thank you everyone for all your great recommendations!
I’m reading a new release through for the second time for the pure joy of it: The Unexpected Miss Bennet by Patrice Sarath. It is one of the very BEST P & P sequels I have ever read and my review will be posted on Nov 30th on a neighboring website. The author has created an unlikely hero much like our loveable turnip! I also asked my wife if I could read the novelette Snow Bride by Debbie McComber after she is finished and I got the strangest look and comment: “But that’s chick-lit.” “Precisely why I want to read it” I replied. “Remember, dear, I’m the incurable romantic…”
Do you ever pick two books that are completely different but realize once you start reading them they have something in common? This week I read two very different books except they both take place in Low Country South Carolina.
The first one is Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer. I loved this book! It came well recommended and I forward all recommendations.
The second one is Sweet Caroline. I also love this Christian Romance even if it was preachy. {Caveat: If you are afraid of books that are religous this is not for you; but if you are brave and bold enough to take a little preaching this is for you.}I especially loved the ending. Every contemporary writer should read this book and try to figure out how to steal the end. No seriously funny and pitch perfect most of the book. Compared to Debbie Maccomber (never read her) but maybe more chick-lit-y.
Anyway moving out of South Carolina back to the Regency.
Okay so according to people who run this site I potentially posted twice but I can’t see my comment. I apoligize if this post is redundant.
This week I tried to read two very different books but strangely they had something in common. Both taking place in Low Country South Carolina. Also both mention the holidays but aren’t really Holiday books.
The First is Agnes and the Hitman which was recommended by several blogs and which I also recommend ’cause I love it very much.
Second is Sweet Caroline, a Christian romance which may be too preachy for many secular readers but which I personally loved anyway.The ending was perfect; I wish more contemporary romances ended this way. I think it was bold and beautiful and left me with confidence for their future. Other than that the book was funny and heart felt and I liked so much of it.
Next up Regency again but I think I will try the sequels eventually to Sweet Caroline.
I have been reading Queen Hereafter by Susan Fraser King which is an excellent historical novel about Queen Margaret of Scotland. It is very exciting with King Malcolm (whose father Duncan was murdered by Macbeth) helping her brother Edgar reclaim the throne of England while keeping the former Queen Lady Macbeth in her place in the North. Queen Margaret struggles with guilt in the part she believes she played in her father’s murder. The love story between Margaret and Malcolm is sweetly done as they are such complete opposites.
Ahhh, I haven’t commented for a while! Well, I just finished ‘Lily of the Nile’ by Stephanie Dray. Right now i’m reading ‘The Memoirs of Mary Queen of Scots’ by Carolly Erickson.
Hi Sharon: Thanks for reminding me about Definitely Not Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos. That looks like a fun and entertaining read and it is now on my M/R stack.
A Rather Remarkable Homecoming, by CA Belmond. This is the fouth of a series I love, and would never have known about if it weren’t for this site.
Re-read some unmentionable paperbacks while at the family pile and still making my way through Jane Austen Made Me Do It. My end-of-fellowship-applications present to myself is waiting for me at home: The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn (so excited).
I’m glad to hear such good things about The Marriage Plot–it’s on my TBR list. Also, I may or may not own Dangerous Beauty on DVD.
I read three short easy local history books. I finished The Wild Hunt by Elizabeth Chadwick and really enjoyed it. Now I’ve started Jane Austen Ruined My Life which is quite fun so far. I started before and didn’t like it, but, thank goodness, I tend to try books again. Smart move because it’s a habit that’s yielded some good reads.
Am7, is Sweet Caroline by Rachel Hauck? It sounds interesting. I want to make sure I’ve got the right book.
Thanks!
This week I zipped through In A Treacherous Court by Michelle Diener. Absolutely loved this! Though at the beginning I found the fast relationship of the characters a little too quick…I wound up loving the book and can’t wait for the sequel!
Next I read Rival to the Queen by Carolly Erickson. Took a few chapters to really get my attention. It’s about Queen Elizabeth latter in life, Robert Dudley and Lettice Knollys.
Today I finished For the King by Catherine Delors. I saw your comment on the cover and dove in! I really enjoyed it!
Ummmm…what to choose on the TBR list next?!! I’m off to my book shelf!
I just got 3 books for my birthday! It’s not for another 9 days, but my brother had it sent with my husbands birthday gift, which was earlier this month.
A Rather Remarkable Homecoming by C.A. Belmond. Lovin’ that series!
Dragons of the Valley by Donita K. Paul. (I think I like the DragonKeeper Chronicles better, but this is good too)
Pride & Prejudice graphic novel, adapted by Nancy Butler.
Let the happy reading begin!!
Sorry took so long Sweet Caroline is by Rachel Hauck.