Casee: I’ve been burning through book like nobody’s business this week. I started watched Bridgertons, stopped, and started The Duke & I. I’ve finished Kristen Ashley’s Ghost and Reincarnation series, which I loved. I also have a book called Wraith by Renee Rocco that I hope to finish this weekend. I’m also going to start The Viscount Who Loved Me. I’m really looking forward to it.
I’m listening to Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews. It’s the first audiobook that I’ve listened to in several months. I love the narrator but I keep getting this series and the Kate Daniels series mixed up.
Holly: It’s been a pretty slow reading week for me. I’m listening to two audiobooks and it feels like they’re taking forever. I’m listening to The Wages of Sin by Kaite Welsh, the first book in the Sarah Gilchrist series. It’s a gothic murder mystery type story, which I generally enjoy. Sadly, I’m struggling to continue since the main character is kind of acting like an idiot. I actually set it aside because I received a skip-the-line copy of Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia that’s only available for 7 days from the library. Though I’m enjoying the creepy atmosphere of the novel, the slow-burn pacing is working against it. I may have to switch to reading.
I read Ten Things I Hate About the Duke by Lorretta Chase. I haven’t read the first book in the series, but I enjoyed this one, so I plan to remedy that soon. I re-read Sweet Dreams and The Gamble by Kristen Ashley, and Blood Heir by Ilona Andrews so I can review it with Casee and Rowena. Hopefully, this week will be better.
Rowena: This week was for The Bridge Kingdom series by Danielle L. Jensen. I read both the first and second books in that series and really enjoyed both books. I’m mighty curious about where the series is going from here but I’m hooked so I’ll be continuing this series for sure. I’m going to start Training Camp by Wesley King and Kobe Bryant today because I’m reading that with my friends. These community reads are really helping me with my reading count. Yay for friends that help me reach my goals.
What are you reading this week? Any new favorites or books that drove you crazy? Share!
I’m reading Katee Robert’s ABEL, which is the first book in her new Sabine Valley series about seven brothers who were banished from their home years before and have now returned to take revenge. Like Robert’s Wicked Villains series, the Sabine Valley books (I’m assuming there will one for each brother) are mashups of contemporary erotic romance tropes, myths, fables, fantasy, and pop culture references featuring a variety of gender pairings/triplings. ABEL is an MMF-ménage romance between the oldest of the seven brothers, his former best friend (now bitter enemy), and the best friend’s fiancée. I’m about halfway through—it’s good and very hot!
Ooh, a revenge romance?? I enjoy those from time to time. Happy reading, Deb!
Is this set in a contemporary fantasy world? It sounds very interesting, but I couldn’t tell from the blurb.
I don’t know if you’ve read Robert’s Wicked Villains series, but the settings are similar: we’re obviously in a contemporary world (cell phones, SUVs, shops/stores, coffee makers, etc.) and characters talk & dress in contemporary idiom & fashion, but there are customs and conventions that must be followed so that peace is maintained between three factions that share the Sabine Valley. There’s no reference to where the Valley is located geographically in the “real world” and there are no references to the world outside the Valley (at least there weren’t in ABEL). So you have a recognizable contemporary world, but with customs and traditions that don’t have any reference beyond a fantasy/alternate universe. I think it will be a good series, but you have to be willing to go with the flow.
I’m between books at the moment.
Are you in the mood for anything in particular or are you just taking a break?
Since last time ~
— The first book I finished this year was a reread. My husband and I were talking about this series on New Year’s Eve thus my interest was piqued. Written In Red (A Novel of the Others Book 1) by Anne Bishop.
— Then I reread Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens for a meeting with my old nineties era book group that is now meeting on Zoom.
— Good Mail Day: A Primer for Making Eye-Popping Postal Art by Hinchcliff and Wheeler was a fun book to browse through.
— a number of m/m stories and novellas; some I liked and others were ho-hum. Some favorites were: Winter Term by Neil S. Plakcy, Enthralled by A. H. Lee, and The Last Text by Alice Winters.
— read with pleasure A Wizard’s Guide To Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher. This book is appropriate for teen readers as well as adults. It also happens to be on sale for 99¢ for Kindle readers.
Have you read the entire Others series? I’ve only read Written in Red. That series completely fell off my radar. Did you enjoy your re-read?
I have indeed read all the books in The Others series, Rowena. It’s one of my favorite series. If I were you, I’d continue on.
I’m with Karen, Rowena. Read on!
I’m adding it to my list for this year then. Thanks guys!
I’m reading one of my older books, A New Hope by Robyn Carr. I have a stack of books I haven’t read yet but I was in the mood for a Robyn Carr book.
Did you watch the Virgin River series on Netflix? I’m curious how you felt it compared to the books.
No I didn’t watch it but have heard people love it. I love the books so I don’t want to watch it as I have my own vision of the people.
Casee, The Bridgerton series is excellent! Enjoy! I don’t think I’m going to watch the show, as I heard they made changes to the story and I love it as it’s written. Holly, I’m reading Ten Things I Hate About the Duke right now. I did read (and reread) the first book Duke In Shining Armor and I think you will love it. Road trip and forbidden love tropes!
I watched the show and I don’t think they made a lot of changes. Some, so the continuity on screen is better, but as far as the storylines go, it very much was how I remembered (though it has been many years since I read the books, so I may have missed some things).
I plan to start Duke in Shining Armor next. I can’t wait!