I seem to be in a reading slump lately, and it really sucks. This is the kind of slump where nothing sounds good. I’ve picked up 5 6 books in the last 2 days and just can’t stick with any of them. I’m trying, but it’s slow going. I’ve heard great things about each of these, so I’m sure it’s a “me” thing and not a “them” thing. Still..maybe ya’ll can help me get something read?
The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne
She’s never met a man she couldn’t deceive…until now.
She’s braved battlefields. She’s stolen dispatches from under the noses of heads of state. She’s played the worldly courtesan, the naive virgin, the refined British lady, even a Gypsy boy. But Annique Villiers, the elusive spy known as the Fox Cub, has finally met the one man she can’t outwit.
I’ve heard amazing things about this book, and I’ve been trying to read it for the last month or so, but I can’t seem to get past chapter 2. It’s engaging, the writing flows well and the characters are intriguing. So you’d think I’d be lapping it up, right? Unfortunately, that just isn’t the case.
Scions: Resurrection by Patrice Michelle
Everyone believed vampires were extinct. Everyone was wrong.
When Ariel Swanson wrote a novel about vampires, she hoped it would exorcise her fear of the creatures that had, not so long ago, terrorized the human population.
Instead, it brought her to their attention.
And to the attention of Jachin Black—a man banished from the Saguinas, a vampire pack, and forced to hunt among the despised humans. For he clung to the prophecy given years ago, of a better way for his kind to live—a prophecy Ariel unknowingly used as the basis of her novel.
Ariel hates and fears vampires. Jachin despises humanity. But the prophecy—and passion—binds them in ways they could never have imagined. Ways that may heal the past, and change the future.…
This is the first book in the series and one I’ve been looking forward to reading. Only..I can’t seem to get past chapter 3. It’s interesting, especially the new twist the author puts on the vamp/were angle. Plus, I’m curious about this man character in this book…he’s tortured, and I do love a tortured hero. So you’d think I’d be all over this one, right? Not so much.
She Went All The Way by Meg Cabot
There are a few places screenwriter Lou Calabrese would rather be than crammed into a helicopter with Jack Townsend, star of her claim to fame, Copkiller, and whose ex just ran off with Lou’s ex. Talk about uncomfortable. But when, halfway out to the isolated arctic location where Copkiller IV is currently shooting, their pilot turns murderous and their helicopter crashes, Lou realizes her day has just gotten a lot worse.
Now, while family and friends back home fret over her disappearance, Lou is on the run in the arctic wilderness with America’s sweetheart Jack Townsend and only the contents of her purse, his pockets, and their mutual knowledge of survival movie trivia to keep them alive. Can these two children of Hollywood put aside their differences and make it back home without killing each other? Or much, much worse, actually start to like one another?
It’s no secret that we here at Book Binge (Namely Rowena and myself)love Meg Cabot. I thought I’d read all her books (or most of the ones that appeal to me anyway..I’m not very interested in the Princess Diary books), so imagine my surprise when I came across, not a book, but an entire series I hadn’t read. WTF? That’s what I said, too. So I started this one. But I haven’t gotten past chapter 4. It’s funny, engaging and well written (as are all MC’s books, IMO) but I just can’t seem to stay focused on it.
Unearthed by C.J. Barry
When handsome alien Cohl Travers plucks her off Earth and says he needs her for a simple little cosmic mission, Tess MacKenzie soon finds herself surrounded by smelly bad guys, an ancient Amulet that could end her singing career permanently, and a man who burns her from the inside out.
This is the first book in C.J. Barry’s Unforgettable series. It’s been sitting in my TBR pile for ages, and I thought I’d pick it up. I’ve heard wonderful things about these books and it seems they were right on. But I can’t seem to move past chapter 2. Maybe it’s the robots? Or the Alien thing? Or maybe it’s just me, because I’m actually really curious to find out where this goes.
Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella
With the same wicked humor and delicious charm that have won her millions of devoted fans, Sophie Kinsella, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Shopaholic & Baby, returns with an irresistible new novel and a fresh new heroine who finds herself in a life-changing and utterly hilarious predicament….
When twenty-eight-year-old Lexi Smart wakes up in a London hospital, she’s in for a big surprise. Her teeth are perfect. Her body is toned. Her handbag is Vuitton. Having survived a car accident—in a Mercedes no less—Lexi has lost a big chunk of her memory, three years to be exact, and she’s about to find out just how much things have changed.
Somehow Lexi went from a twenty-five-year-old working girl to a corporate big shot with a sleek new loft, a personal assistant, a carb-free diet, and a set of glamorous new friends. And who is this gorgeous husband—who also happens to be a multimillionaire? With her mind still stuck three years in reverse, Lexi greets this brave new world determined to be the person she…well, seems to be. That is, until an adorably disheveled architect drops the biggest bombshell of all.
Suddenly Lexi is scrambling to catch her balance. Her new life, it turns out, comes complete with secrets, schemes, and intrigue. How on earth did all this happen? Will she ever remember? And what will happen when she does?
This is SK’s latest release and one I’ve been anxious for since I heard about it forever and a day ago. I picked it up on it’s release date and read two pages before I put it down. I picked it up again a week ago and read about 5 pages before I put it down. Yesterday I managed to read about 20 before I lost interest. I can’t say it’s the book, since I didn’t get far enough in to say one way or the other. All I know is I don’t seem to want to read it.
Heart of the Dragon by Gena Showalter
Grace Carlyle’s world was about to change . . .
Deep in the jungle on the trail of her missing brother, Grace never expected to find a secret world populated by mythological monsters — nor guarded by a sword-wielding being whose beauty put mortal men to shame.
Darius en Kragin belongs to a race of shape-shifting warriors sworn to guard Atlantis and kill all travelers who stray within its boundaries. Yet when Grace stumbles into his realm, he finds himself tempted to betray his centuries-old vow.
Now their forbidden love will either bring their worlds together — or tear them both apart.
This is the first book in Gena Showalter’s Atlantis series. I have the whole thing (is it 3 books or 4?) TBR and thought I’d finally get working on them. But..no. I think I’m just not in the mood for a paranormal. I only made it past the Prologue.
I guess the only thing I haven’t tried yet is Romantic Suspense, and it just doesn’t sound appealing. Maybe erotica? Thoughts? Suggestions? If nothing else, distract me.
Tell me, what are you (not) reading?
YOU MUST READ The Spymaster’s Lady!! That will definitely get you out of your reading slump. Best historical romance I have read in over 5 years.
And Heart of the Dragon is a good one too! Funny and very sexy. I have read all of her Atlantis series books. All are winners. 🙂
I liked SPYMASTERS LADY but I picked it up and put it down at least 3 times before I was “in the mood” for it. Same thing this week with SILENT RUN by Barbara Freethy and UNLAWFUL CONTACT by Pamela Clare.
I loved GRIMSPACE by Ann Aguirre and was actually picking through my tbr thinking it had been sitting there a month and I probably wasn’t going to read it. As soon as I got started though I was hooked.
I enjoyed The Spymaster’s Lady, though I admit you have to be in the mood for it. Perfect Arrangement by Sherry Thomas also worked for me.
Loved Grimspace. Now I’m trying to figure out what to read…
I feel you on the slump. My last one lasted a good 6 months. YA stuff always gets me out of it. Always happy to reccommend YA stuff.
I’m hoping to finish Dear Santa tonight.
I’m also reading a non-fiction book, Red Letter Christians. This is a big deal for me. I don’t do non-fic…like EVER. So, that’ll take me forever. But slow and steady wins the race or some shit. 😉
I am having the same issue with The Spymaster’s Lady. I was feeling bad about it because everyone is saying how good it is. I am going to keep trying it but I do not know.
The Gena Showalter books i read out of order. Because I did not have Heart of the Dragon. I read Jewel and then Nymph King and loved those but then tried to go back later and read Heart and could not get into it. I am going to try it again but have not gotten there.
Ugh! I hate The Slump. Thankfully my last one was short. Sometimes I go back and reread one of my faves to knock me back on track with reading. Mr. Perfect always seems to get me back out of The Slump.
Spymaster’s Lady! Do carry on with that.
I tried to read Dream Hunter by Sherrilyn Kenyon but couldn’t carry on. A DNF for me.
LOL: I’ve quite a pile of books I’ve started and put down. It’s not the books – it’s me. Some of them include Private Arrangements, Riding the Storm, White Lies and a couple more.
Hey there 😀 Two books I had difficulty with lately are 50 ways to Hex your Lover by Linda Wisdom and Fast & Loose by Elizabeth Bevarly. Oh and also, Once Bitten Twice Shy by Jessica Rardin. i rarely pick up a book and put it down, but 3 since the beginning of the month, it doesn’t bode well. I still don’t know whether I should buy the Spymaster’s Lady or not. and I look at Private Arrangements and I’m like, meh… sucks no?
Oh.Em.Gee. I want that SK book, even though I hate amnesia stories, I wanna read this one because Ames said she really enjoyed it.
You gotta read it, finish it and tell me if you like it or not…seriously Holly, if you love me, you’ll do it. haha.
I haven’t heard of those other books so I couldn’t help you. I enjoyed the MC book, though you already know since I’m the MC freak a leak around here….=)
Get out of your reading slump, we need you, Holly…seriously.
I am (not) reading The Duke of Shadows. I got as far as chapter 6 and put it down. It’s good, I’m just not in the mood for it right now.
Like Nath with 50 Ways to Hex your Lover, I haven’t gotten past chapter 2.
I’m sure there’s more, but I get depressed just thinking about everything I am (not) reading.
Brie,
It sucks, doesn’t it? I hate (not) reading stuff. *sigh*
Nath,
I have both of those TBR. Too bad you can’t get into them. You’ll have to let me know if you finally read them and what you think.
Ween,
I hate Amnesia stories, too, but I figured I’d like it anyway since it’s SK. 😛
I’m doing my best, but cripes, I just can’t seem to get into anything.
Mollie,
I can’t wait to hear what you think of it.
Rosie/Stacy, I’ve heard a lot of great things about GRIMSPACE. I have it on my wishlist, but I feel like I need to get through some of my TBR pile before I buy more books. It’s starting to scare me.
Thanks to everyone who rec’d The Spymaster’s Lady. I’m sure it’s good, I’m just not in the mood to read it. 😉
I feel like I have tried everything and I still haven’t read a book since the start of the year. I’m praying for the next Anne Stuart. If that fails I’m in HUGE trouble.
I have taken If You Dare by Kresley Cole off the TBR pile – I loved her first paranormal so I’m hoping to find the same love for her historicals.
CindyS
I am not reading Rogue by Rachel Vincent. It’s the second book in a paranormal were series but I am just too tired to get into it. And, it reminds me too much of the Kelley Armstrong Otherworld series. Which reminds me, I bought Personal Demon (Armstrong’s newest in HC) but it is sitting in on my shelf at work.
I read the SK book. I really liked it. The significance of the sunflower really made me sigh, but I didn’t feel like I got a happily ever after.
I want to read the Meg Cabot book when I get a chance.
Gabby
I started Spymaster but set it down about 50 pages to 100 pages in months ago and never picked it up again. (Haven’t given up though!)
Mostly I have “issues” with the heroine and hero wasn’t strong enough to cover that.
So far so good in the reading dept. for me. I finally read rene’s Tempting Darkness which I really liked and also Surrender by Pamela Clare. (HIGHLY recommend that to anyone in a historical romance mood- and Ride The Fire as well!)
I also re-read Karen Marie Moning’s Spell of the Highlander and MAN do I love that book! (It somehow comes off more erotic for me than many books classfied as erotica! When she licks Cian’s back? grrrrrrrrrr!)
Oh, I hear you on the moods thing. Sometimes you do have to find the right book.
But WHAT is all this about you and other people putting down the SPYMASTERS LADY? OMG, I loved that book SO much. I am one of those people!
Look at the guy on the cover. He is waiting for you. His CHEST is getting COLD waiting for you, Holly!
Hey Holly… 50 ways to hex your lover is worth a try. Fast & Loose, just skip. not worth it. pretty cover though… 🙁