There’s something about summer and brand new books that just goes together. In between gnashing my teeth over revisions (revisions always entail tearing of hair and gnashing of teeth– or, at least, lots of wine and chocolate), I’ve been indulging in some new to me books. This week’s haul:
— Laurie King’s The Bones of Paris
, in which a hard-bitten American detective is hired to look for a missing girl in 1920s Paris and finds himself on the trail of a possible serial killer. For anyone who loves 1920s Paris and/or Criminal Minds
. Laurie King is a master at bringing (historically detailed) dark alleys and darker motives to life.
— Ann Leary’s The Children
, a gift from my editor (thank you, editor!), about a crumbling lakeside estate in Connecticut and the very complicated (and equally crumbling) family that lives in it, just as everything begins to fall apart. Has anyone else read Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle
? Although the story is very different (no poisoning!), there was something about the narrator’s voice and the isolated situation that reminded me very strongly of that book. Definitely a stay-up-to-see-how-it-turns-out sort of book.
Up next, I have Liane Moriarty’s Truly Madly Guilty
and Helen Simonson’s The Summer Before the War
— although I may resort to a Georgette Heyer comfort read first.
What have you been reading this week?
Now I have to check out The Children! I’ve been reading Richelle Mead’s The Glittering Court… and, not much good to say about it.
I just finished Truly Madly Guilty! I enjoyed it, but not as much as most of Moriarty’s books. And I was debating if I can squeeze in a Heyer reread before I get back to things-that-need-reviewed…
I read Purity in Death. The more of the In Death series I read, the more I like it. But it’s best started at the beginning and too dark for some.
I also reread Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare. One of my favorite books right now. I could read it over and over again. It’s a great comfort read, so fun and very magical!
I really wouldn’t bother with The Summer before the War, it really wasn’t terribly good, a bit of a disappointment after her first book.
I really enjoyed One Plus One by JoJo Moyes also The Wild Hunt b y Elizabeth Chadwick. I’m now reading The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean and next up is A Night ON The Orient Express by Veronica Henry. My Mom is reading The Roselynde chronicles by Roberta Gellis. There are six books in the series and she is book Joanna which is book 3.
I absolutely adored Roberta Gellis. I’ve been re-reading the Roselynde books lately too. Such wonderful stories, with accurate historical detail really hooked me back in the 80s when I first read them.
Johnny Tremain – Esther Forbes – Just as good as when I read it 30 some years ago.
Agnes & the Hitman – Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer
Moon Called & Blood Bound Patricia Briggs – There are things I have a problem with in this series but they are interesting enough for me to keep reading.
The series definitely gets better as it goes on. The more fairy centric Mercy stories work the best!
Jodi Taylor’s Just One Damned Thing After Another. Time traveling historians get into all sorts of shenanigans. This book was a hoot and a half; totally loved it!
It’s been a super busy and stressful summer here in Wyoming, so I’ve been doing lots of re-reading. I just finished the first three Lady Julia books by Deanna Raybourn, while re-reading a beloved Heyer book on my phone whenever I get a free moment. I also have been re-reading Roberta Gellis’ Roselynde Chronicles. I get to take a vacation in September, so I’ll be looking for something new to read. Too bad there’s no new Lauren Willig or Deanna Raybourn book coming out right about now!