Weekly Reading Round-Up

This could be more aptly called Monthly Reading Round-Up. What with this and that, I’ve sadly neglected Weekly Reading Round-Up for the past few weeks. In recompense, here’s the latest haul:

— Rosemary Clement-Moore, The Splendor Falls.

I’ve long been a fan of Rosemary Clement-Moore’s Maggie books (girl versus evil!), but hadn’t read her stand-alone YA, about a teen ballerina forced, due to injury, to spend the summer on the old family homestead in Alabama. Why did I wait so long? It reminds me of the old Barbara Michaels I loved so much: that faint, shivery tinge of the Gothic and a historical family mystery to unravel, all told through the viewpoint of a smart, spunky heroine.

— Dianne Emley, The First Cut.

In case it hasn’t come up before, one of my guilty pleasures is the tv show “Criminal Minds”. (So many episodes! And on at just about any time!). So when I say that reading this book felt like watching a “Criminal Minds” episode, I mean it in a very good way.

— Kristan Higgins, My One and Only.

It’s a Kristan Higgins. Enough said.

— Kate Morton, The Forgotten Garden.

I’ve recently discovered Kate Morton’s books and have been making up for lost time. This one reminded me a bit of A.S. Byatt’s Possession, as a modern woman must discover a secret embedded in the writings of a Victorian author, finding the facts behind the fiction.

— Beatriz Williams, Overseas.

Confession time. This book won’t be out until January 2012. But please trust me when I say it’s worth the wait. Mark your calendars now! I’ve read a lot of excellent books recently, but this one blows them all away. You can read about it– and find an excerpt– on her website.

What have you been reading?

13 Comments

  1. Tracie on April 16, 2011 at 9:23 am

    Hooray, the Weekly Reading Round-Up is back! I’ve missed this feature!

    Last week, I finished Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford and I’m sorry to say that I was really disappointed. I thought the premise was fantastic, but the execution wasn’t good.

    My Heyer book club is reading A Civil Contract. I was worried when I heard that this book wasn’t as light, fun, and romantic as Heyer’s usual fare, but it turns out that I’m really enjoying it! The plot revolves around a couple who’s entered into a marriage of convenience and it’s really entertaining, compelling stuff!

  2. Abigail on April 16, 2011 at 12:04 pm

    I just read The Forgotten Garden, too. LOVED it. She’s a terrific writer—I’ll have to try some more of hers…

  3. Amanda on April 16, 2011 at 12:12 pm

    I have been reading War by Sebastian Junger which is excellent so far, re-reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck, Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn, and Passage by Sandy Powers. I’m planning on finishing everything by the weekend so I can begin my spring break reading!! VT schools are on break this coming week and I have nothing but light and fun reads lined up for my week away from my students!!!

  4. Joanne M. on April 16, 2011 at 12:38 pm

    Legacy by Jeanette Baker (Scotland, time travel, romance, suspense — what more could I ask for?)

    My Love, My Enemy; My Lord Monleigh, both by Jan Cox Speas (If you enjoy Susanna Kearsley’s writing, you’ll enjoy Jan Cox Speas.)

    Whom the Gods Love by Kate Ross — excellent Regency mystery writer (sadly, who passed away much too young).

  5. Elizabeth aka Miss Eliza on April 16, 2011 at 3:43 pm

    I totally agree about The Forgotten Garden, read it back in January. Right now I’m on a Jane Eyre re-read, going to see the new movie tonight, which I know won’t match the 2006 BBC version of pure perfection, but it will be a fun night out.

  6. Am7 on April 16, 2011 at 3:48 pm

    Lauren, I am SO Happy the weekly reading round-up is back.

    I am almost finishing reading an Inspirational Romance called Maid to Match. It’s pretty good, and nominated for Rita. It’s a nice break from the usual romances; because it is about lower class people who work for the Vanderbilts at Biltmore House. Not terribly religious, (a few conversations) but a lot of fun.
    (Especially for people who like historicals featuring big estates. I like house stories and the details about running Biltmore House are interesting to me.
    I basically in the middle of the other books I am reading so…. next week?
    🙂

  7. Diana on April 16, 2011 at 4:22 pm

    I am reading Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran. It is about the French Revolution. I am really enjoying it. And now I really want to go to a Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum (there is one in So. California, although I would prefer the one in London.

  8. Carole on April 16, 2011 at 4:23 pm

    I just finished Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George, you can check out my review: http://caroleraesramblings.blogspot.com/2011/04/new-book-review-autobiography-of-henry.html

    Right now I’m reading ‘The Snow Fox’ by Susan Fromberg Schaeffer. Also, ‘Dark Angels’ by Karleen Koen, which is very good so far!

  9. Allison on April 16, 2011 at 4:35 pm

    I’m with you on The Splendor Falls, I really loved it. Her next YA book, Texas Gothic, is coming out this summer! (July I think.)

    I’m about to embark upon a reread of The Tea Rose and The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly, because the last book of the trilogy will be released soon. Great historical fiction by one of the best writers I’ve read. You should check them out if you haven’t!

    I’m now off to look up Overseas…

  10. Pam on April 17, 2011 at 9:50 am

    Three cheers for the return of the reading round up! I’ve been meaning to start reading some Kate Morton. I’ve had The House at Riverton on my shelf for a year and haven’t gotten to it, but all these raves for The Forgotten Garden are nudging me in the right direction.

    I read The Raising by Laura Kasischke, which was really terrific. It’s about the suspicious death of a college freshman in a car accident and its fallout. The narrative weaves back and forth between memories of her and the next year, following her boyfriend, who was driving, his roommate who had known Nicole since childhood, the music professor who witnessed the accident, and the anthropology professor whose seminar on death the roommate is taking. Nicole has started to appear around campus and we must figure out if she’s a ghost, it’s a prank, or if she never really died. There’s a lot here with the blurring between ghosts and memories. It reminded me a lot of The Secret History. The writing is amazing–evocative, pointed, and penetrating.

    Now I’m starting The Waitress by Melissa Nathan. I’m hoping it will get better–the main character is just so unlikeable. But I hear it takes about 100 pages to get into it, so I’ll brew up a pot of tea and savor the knowledge that it has nothing to do with my dissertation 🙂

  11. Sheila on April 17, 2011 at 11:53 am

    Pricelees by Robert Wittman: This is the story of the recovery of priceless art and antiquities by an FBI undercover agent. It read like a novel, really enthralling. I have just finished Morland Dynasty book 5, The Black Pearl, and am still loving it. Last week I read book 2 of Molly Murphy, The Death of Riley, and am currently in Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree. Not much romance lately..The Naked Viscount, by Mackenzie, was just a bit disappointing: great plot and characters, just a bit too much stretching of mores of the time.

  12. Tipsy Reader on April 17, 2011 at 4:08 pm

    Ain’t Rosemary the best?! She’s what I’ve been reading lately!

  13. vanessa phelps on April 21, 2011 at 3:32 am

    omg i am in love with the t.v. show criminal minds 😀
    go spencer reid!

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