Weekly Reading Round-Up
I know I read something earlier this week. But I can’t for the life of me remember what it was. I know there was some Georgette Heyer in there, specifically The Convenient Marriage, one of my favorite Heyers, and one I haven’t revisited for a while. This one is 18th century, rather than Regency set, and Heyer captures the tone perfectly.
Right now, I’m reading book two of Eileen Dreyer’s Drake’s Rakes series, Never a Gentleman, and wondering (a) why it took me so long to read her, and (b) why I didn’t start with book one, Barely a Lady.
What have you been reading this week?
I’ve been sick in bed all week so I read a few things. First was A Lesson in Secrets (Jacqueline Winspear), the eighth Maisie Dobbs book in which she goes undercover at a college in Cambridge. I liked it quite a bit, but probably would have enjoyed it more if I’d read some of the earlier books in th series. Then I read A Walk in the Park (Jill Mansell), about a 30-something woman who comes back to Bath 18 years after leaving home and has to deal with the ghosts of relationships past. I always enjoy Mansell’s quirky British chick-lit and this one was quite well done, though I had some issues with the way minority characters were handled. Last I read Midnight in Austenland (Shannon Hale), a Northanger Abbey-inspired sequel to Austenland, which was just charming and fun. And now back to trying to hack up my other lung 🙂
Poor you! Feel better!! I can very much sympathize– that was me the week before last. So. Much. Coughing. And it always seems particularly unfair when it’s summer….
I have been reading Deanna Raybourn’s three Lady Julia novellas, and wishing there was another full length one coming out! I read all of Geeorgette Heyer’s books years ago, and started to read them again last winter! Of course I will be anxiously awaiting the newest Pink book from you and the newest Lady Emily book from Tasha Alexander:)
I completely agree! Her novellas are great but I would love a full length novel.
I bought six Deanna Raybourn books the other day. Trying to figure out which one to start….
I adore “A Spear of Summer Grass”
The Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane books star with Silent in the Grave, then continue with Silent in the Sanctuary,Silent on the Moor*, Dark Road to Darjeeling*, and The Dark Inquiry* – I enjoyed them all, but especially those starred. It is helpful to read this series in order.
Deanna’s stand alones are A Spear of Summer Grass with a novella prequel Far in the Wilds, City of Jasmine (Whisper of Jasmine prequel), and The Dead Travel Fast. I am a fan of all of her books.
I just finished re-reading the series and damn I wish she would write more! I love the Brisbanes and the Marches…..Portia and Plum need to find partners and I want to know what happens to Lucy and her dastardly husband.
Agree wholeheartedly!!
I’m in the camp that says “I want more” after every novella. They’re such great stories that I don’t want them to end. The most recent one was really good because now their lives are going to change…how fun is that!!
I am reading the latest Outlander book, Written in My Own Heart’s Blood; just started part III. On my kindle I am reading the 4th book in the Out of Time series by Monique Martin.
Just finished Hollow City by Ransom Riggs which was incredible. So different.
I just got That Summer at the library! I know what I’m reading this weekend!
This week and the next, I’m being part of a huge read-along happening on FB, with 200 other people… which is reaaaally fun, given that the author herself is part of the read-along and drops regularly on the FB event to comment on our comments, answer our questions, or just be plain wonderful.
It’s Penny Reid, and we are (re)reading Neanderthal seeks human (the first installment in the Knitting in the City series), in preparation for the release of installment 1.5, Neanderthal marries human. She is self published and her romances are nerdy, utterly fun and very very very good!! I cannot recommand her enough!! 🙂
She already has 3 books out, NmH will be the fourth.
Maybe we, Willig-maniacs, should do something like that, you know, a huge read-along on FB… this could be such fun!!!
Celine, what a fabulous idea! I’d be so happy to be part of a read along, if you’ll just tell me how it’s done.
I’m not sure how it’s done precisely… For the on-going one with Penny Reid, Penny created the event on FB, an open event, and anyone could just invite themselves to it. Then, everyday, one of the “official” animators (one or two ardent fans, in that precise case) publish a short summary of the chapters read for the day’s discussions, where everyone can post questions and make remarks. Then Penny drops by and answers them all. Everyone can publish what they want, any time they want, with photos, questions, polls, and messages to Penny, provided they don’t spoil anything for the others.
(I’m told there even is a virtual knitting party Sunday evening!)
But I’m just a participant, and not an admin, so I’m not familiar with the mechanics of the whole event (and, I kind of have a very bad karma for all things FB so it’s better that I am not an admin, things would go… awry, let’s say!:D )
But it’s really really fun!!
The Glass Kitchen – from your recommendation earlier in the week as well as A Week In Winter by Maeve Binchy.
I finished books 2 and 3 in the Summersett Trilogy, A Bloom in Winter and Summer Awakening by T J Brown, which I enjoyed very much, a Greg Iles novella, Then Death Factory, and One Lavender Ribbon by Heather Burch, which I enjoyed , but am a little ambivalent about.
Did the second and third books end better than the first book? I hated the ending of the first book so much that I have gone off the series.
I’m Reading Diana Gabaldon’s Written In My Own Heart’s Blood. Last night I reached the chapter entitled “In which I meet a turnip” and I immediately thought “Was he wearing a pink waistcoat?”
I’ve been reading a galley of Fool’s Assassin by Robin Hobb.
Lord Somertons Heir by Alison Stuart. Saw it on Good Reads and took a chance. Different than what I was expecting, but in a good way. The romance was touching, the mystery interesting and a great cast of characters. Really enjoyed it. Then, the latest Gareth and Gwen Medieval mystery, An Unlikely Spy by Sarah Woodbury. Love this series! It was a great book!
I read the latest Longmire book, Any Other Name. I always enjoy those. I finished up Carolyn Haines’ latest, Booty Bones. Oh! And India Black the Gentleman Thief. Love India Black. Her opinions are priceless. And her interactions with French and others crack me up.
I’ve been saving up That Summer until I could spend large amounts if uninterrupted time reading it – loving it so far!
Nina Rowan’s newest A Dream of Desire.
I read That Summer and it is still with me. I wish I could express how much I loved it. It was what I personally refer to as a “Poppins” book, after Mary Poppins, because it was practically perfect in every way. I keep saying this, but I cried, I laughed, and I may have actually cheered out loud for the ginger biscuits.
My TBR pile is ridiculous. My kindle may explode. I have just started Dragonfly in Amber. I am so behind the crowd with the Outlander series.
Read Karen Ranney’s Witch of Clan Sinclair and enjoyed so much that I bought book one is the series Devil of Clan Sinclair.
Going to start that Summer next. 🙂
I read The Vanishing by Wendy Webb. I love creepy house books so this was perfect for me. I’m reading Peter Pan to my 9 year old and also working my way through Last Child in the Woods: Saving Children from Nature Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv. It always seems to take me a lot longer to finish a nonfiction book. I’m waiting for That Summer to come in on hold at the library.
I’m over halfway through That Summer and really loving it. I am encouraged by some of the comments referring to it as “perfect”.
Thanks for another great book, Lauren!
I just finished “That Summer” — really enjoyed it! I didn’t want to put it down.
I’ve started rereading the Pink Carnation books. I also just bought That Summer, so I’m excited for that. Can’t wait for August and Midnight Manzanilla!
I’m way behind the curve because when I should be reading That Summer, I am FINALLY reading The Ashford Affair! (Putting helmet on and ducking back into my foxhole) Review forthcoming on http://www.goodreads.com and http://www.amazon.com
I read The Vacationers by Emma Staub and Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh both were pretty good, but not as wonderful as I expected. I’m listening to the first book in Marie Brennan’s A Natural History of Dragons read by Kate Reading. So far it’s terrific.