Weekly Reading Round-Up
Just as I was in a reading slump, my friend Vicki came to my rescue with a bag full of books. I’ve just started reading my way through them, beginning with the romances:
— Jo Goodman, Let Me Be The One
Jo Goodman writes thoughtful, interesting historical romances with well-rounded characters and Let Me Be The One
— Eve Silver, Dark Desires
Rather that prostitute herself, a down on her luck Victorian woman becomes an anatomist’s assistant. But is he acquiring his corpses in less than savory ways? A foggy London gothic romance novel of the “is he good? is he evil? is he Jack the Ripper?” variety.
— Carla Kelly, Marrying The Captain
I’m making up for years of not having read Carla Kelly. Marrying The Captain
I’ll be getting to the historical fiction and mystery novels in the care package next week….
What have you been reading this week?
Side note: If you’ve read The Ashford Affair
Lighthouse Bay by Kimberley Freeman. So far it is very good.
I have been reading a spy series this week. Great books with some romance too. Never say spy and the spy is cast by Diane henders.
Finished Ashford Affair yesterday. Before that was Trial by Desire by Courtney Milan, and Midnight at Marble Arch by Anne Perry. I’m currently reading one of Carola Dunn’s Daisy Dalrymple mysteries, and then it’s on to Mariana by Susanna Kearsley.
I love Susanna Kearsley and “Mariana” is particularly good.
Crossed, a Tale of the Fourth Crusade by Nicole Galland. A rather snarky take on a rather failed
Crusade.
It’s my favorite crusade. For the sheer ridiculousness factor….
I’m reading “Atonement” for the first time, really because I’m tired of the way people react when I tell them I’ve never read it. Is it as good as everyone says? I’m only about 90 pages in, and it’s fine so far, but not life-changing…
I’ve been re-reading The Scarlet Pimpernel. 🙂 I just love Sir Percy.
“They seek him here…. they seek him there….”
This week I’ve been reading Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier. Gothic intrigue on the moors? Yes please!
Oh, I adore Jamaica Inn!
A wonderful story. In fact, anything by du Maurieris terrific. Try “House on the Strand”, Pam. It’s excellent as well.
Ditto on the Jamaica Inn recommendation! And I remember also really liking “My Cousin Rachel” once upon a time.
Lauren, Thank you very much for amazing book – great story with vibrant characters (reinvented Bea reminds me a little of Millicent Rogers during her Taos years), wonderful background and unexpected ending. Ever since I read “Out of Africa” as a twelve year old, I’ve been fascinated by Kenya. Back in early seventies, before she started her freshman year of college, my mom got serious marriage proposal from young and handsome(“great dancer…”) owner of peanut farm in Kenya. Mom wasn’t ready to give up her education and felt too young for such a serious commitment, but I love to tease her about it … I can’t wait for her to read “The Ashford Affair” !
Thanks so much, Nessa! I love the story of your mother and the peanut farmer….
Read “The Ashford Affair” which was awesome! (I will post a review on Amazon, Lauren!)Then, finished up “Whiskey Beach,” Nora Robert’s latest which was really good. Lately, her books have been hit or miss for me, but this one was enjoyable. Then finished up with “the Paris Affair” by Teresa Grant. It was really, really good.
Thanks, Alice! I’m so happy you enjoyed “Ashford”! And I also give two thumbs up to “The Paris Affair”. : )
Ashford Affair review posted to Amazon!
This week I finally finished Out of Africa… yeah, at least that’s done. I then moved onto Deanna Raybourn’s newest, A Spear of Summer Grass as well as the little prequel, Far in the Wilds, which are both awesome.
As a side note, but still related, the Spear of Summer Grass review is now on my blog for Ashford April, which ends when April ends… so last chance to win some AWESOME Lauren swag, signed books yo!
Dark Desires by Eve Silver sounds intriguing.
I read Lamb: the Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore.
The book was commical telling of the life of Jesus. It was very silly and very good.
I was wondering if anyone else had tried Christopher Moore and if they had any recommendations regarding his work?
I haven’t read it yet, but my college roommate (who is my Book Recommender in Chief) told me that I have to read Moore’s “Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove”. Which is rather a cool title.
I read The Ashford Affair (twice!) and I loved it. I also read (and am now rereading) The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. Beautiful book…
Thanks, Courtney!! I’m so thrilled that you’ve already read “Ashford” twice!
Just finished Ashford Affair (yes I submitted review to amazon:0). Rereading Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John LeCarre-was in the mood for more history and bygone eras! also, re read Linda Howard’s Open Season, as I was in the mood to laugh out loud. &ooo Daphne du maurier is always a good read.
ashley- atonement. do you like character studies that may/may not have a happy ending? that what is what that is-I wouldn’t term it a love story.
amy7- I adore Christopher Moore!! Fool is my favorite, but only because I’m a Shakespeare nerd. I have enjoyed everything I’ve read from him.
Thanks, Jamie, for the review! Also, I’ve never read any Linda Howard and have been told I need to remedy that. Would you start with “Open Season”?
I’m continuing the group read of Pride and Prejudice over at http://www.pemberley.com and learning so much from the knowledgeable participants there.
I also just finished The Wrong Woman by Kimberly Truesdale which has just been published. Another excellent Regency romance but with several unique twists that quite sets it apart from the others.
I’m currently reading The Garden Folly by Candice Hern as a part of a reading challenge put forth by http://www.austenprose.com. I’ve read 2 of her short stories and 2 of her novels thus far and I’m delighted to have been put on to her because if you like Georgette Heyer you will love her work. I HIGHLY recommend anything she has put to print!
I’ll try to post a review on Amazon about Ashford Affair. Haven’t done it before. I read Cover of Snow by Jenny Milchman; that was really gripping and convaluted, in a good way! Also read Susan Wittig Albert’s Widow’s Tears. I really found that interesting as it included the Great 1900 Hurricane that killed so many in Galveston; I live in Houston and Galveston was where we went to the beach in my childhood. I can also recommend The Perfect Ghost by Linda Barnes; not a ghost story! But really intriguing and twisty.
I read the new Craig Johnson’s Longmire short story. And currently I’m in Murder in the Afternoon by Frances Brody.
Thank you Lauren and Jamie for the recommends!
I love My Cousin, Rachel by Daphne DuMaurier and second the recommendation!