BOOKS READ:
1. Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris
Lily Bard Mystery, book 1Despite the fact that I have had the now ever so popular Sookie Stackhouse series on my TBR shelf for nearly three years, and have continued to add to it as the newer releases come out in paperback, Harris' Lily Bard Mystery series looks like it has become my first foray into this author's work. Great story, great characters. I just love Lily... there's something about her that just keeps me flipping the pages to her stories.
2. Shakespeare's Champion by Charlaine Harris
A Lily Bard Mystery, book 2
I read this one in a day. I didn't think Lily could grow on me more than she did in the first book, but I'm even more attached to her now. I'm regretting not grabbing the whole series off the library shelf on my last visit. The mystery in this book was more complicated than in the first novel and was more serious or touchy in nature, but the author penned it wonderfully. Lily is establishing friendships in this book, remembering what it's like to have personal connections and intimacy. Intimacy in friendships as well as with lovers. It's good to see. I want Lily to be more than content. She deserves true happiness.
3. A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh
Historical romance. A very sweet (and short) story, vivid characters.
4. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson & The Olympians series, Book 1This is a very popular fantasy series for readers in grades 4-6, but there are plenty of teens and adults reading these books as well. Percy Jackson finds out for the first time that he's a half blood god and takes on a dangerous quest to retrieve Zeus' stolen lightning thief. This is a fun, contemporary adventure with plenty of action to keep the story moving. I'm glad I read the book as I did enjoy it, but I'm not terribly pressed to read the next book in the series. I'd definitely pick it up when the second movie is soon to be released in theaters sometime down the line... or if my 10 year old is relentless with begging me to do so, whichever comes first. ;)
5. The Next Best Thing by Kristan Higgins
I love this author's contemporary romances. Kind of straight forward, but so much fun and satisfying to read. There's plenty of humor, some silly and some serious drama, and often some very tender and teary moments. Always a happy ending.
This is the third Kristan Higgins novel I've read and it's definitely my favorite. I didn't think it would be once I got the gist of the premise, but wow does this author know how to write realistic stories with realistic characters whose lives are all meshed together in ways the reader can wholly identify with. This one really got to me on an emotional level... I went through a lot of tissues. It wasn't depressing.. I just deeply empathized with the heroine. I also shed tears of joy in the end. It was just such a lovely, lovely story.
6. The Unfinished Angel by Sharon Creech
A recently released title in children's literature that is a must read for children of all ages. This is a charming tale about a young girl and an angel... both without a mission, who together save a group of orphans and set the course of positive change in the lives of the people in a little village tucked away in the Swiss Alps. I'm currently waiting for my two daughters ages 10 and 14 to read this book next so we can discuss it! :)
7. Steamed by Katie MacAlister
My first steampunk novel! I've only read the first two chapters so far, but it's quirky, retro, modern and fun all at the same time. Should be an interesting and entertaining read.
I finally finished this book today after reading it on and off for several weeks. I just couldn't get into it. I think it is partly due to the writer's style... kind of casual, humorous, slightly slapstick kind of story without tremendous story or character depth. I thought the world had potential, but even then, it wasn't widely explored or developed.
8. Vengeance In Death by J.D. Robb
In Death series, book 6
A great installment to the series. A solid murder mystery tied to Roarke & Summerset's mysterious past in Ireland. A lot more information about Roarke is revealed in this story, which is always good to read about. Eve and Roarke have a few serious arguments in this book, which was actually nice to see. Keeps their marriage normal. Eve also showed some neediness towards Roarke, which was so nice to see. She needs to need him ... and admit it to him, too. The last couple of pages were really intense and I actually choked up a little on the emotional impact of the scene on Eve & Roarke as well as on a small, subtle shift in the tension between Eve and Summerset. Never thought I'd see the day.
3 comments:
I pretty much like every single series that Charlaine Harries does - I'd definitely give her Aurora Teagarden books a try after you finish the Lily Bard series!
And I can't wait to hear what you think of the Katie MacAlister. It's been getting a lot of hype as one of the few mainstream steampunk romances, but I couldn't decide if I wanted it or not.
Hi Dana!
Thanks so much for recommending Harris' Aurora Teagarden books. I think I saw them nestled next to the Lily Bard books at the library!
I'm going to read Steamed soon, I hope. I did read the first two chapters and I'll tell you that it has a lighthearted feel to it... not super serious. I'll have to read more to know for sure, though.
Dana, I finally finished Steamed this morning and am considering writing a review of it on my blog, but since you asked earlier this month, I'll let you know that I wasn't crazy about it. It was very light hearted, not a lot of depth, sometimes very silly--although that is the writer's intent, I believe, and I wasn't terribly drawn to the story or the characters.
Did you get around to picking it up yet?
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