What Are You Reading Week of March 3

I read Black Widow by Laurie Breton over the weekend. I had to order it from Amazon because my local bookstores couldn't get it & boy am I glad I did! It had been out of print & just re-published - great romantic suspense. I can highly recommend it! I also read The Passion of Sam Broussard by Maggie Price & it's going to the UBS if that tells you anything.

I'm currently re-reading Deadly Gamble, the 1st book in the Mojo Sheepshanks series, by Linda Lael Miller & then I'm reading the new one Deadly Deceptions.

I just finished The Mage's Daughter by Lynn Kurland last night. I really enjoyed both books in this series. However, if I had known it was a new series book I would probably never have bought it, because after looking at her website I see no mention of the next. I HATE waiting for unknown periods of time for the next installment! There's all kinds of other stuff on her website, but no mention of anything new for this series. Aggravating!

Thanks for letting me vent!

I started Fire Study by Maria Snyder. It's good (though if you haven't read the first two, it could be confusing); the interactions between Yelena and Valek are some of the best parts and he hasn't appeared yet. . . .

Last night I read the anthology Wild Thing with Maggie Shayne, Marjorie M. Liu, Alyssa Day, and Meljean Brook. I'd never read any of Shayne's work and liked her story best of all, which was a surprise. Anyone recommend a good Maggie Shayne book?

This week I plan to finish Queen of Dragons by Shana Abe.

arr, I understand about waiting for the next book in a series to come out. Sometimes it's best when a series is already complete and you can read it all at once.

I'm reading several books.

Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
The Histories by Herodotus

I find it helps me to read from several different genres at once so as not to become burnt out reading any one particular genre. Hence, the variety in books I'm currently reading.=)

Out of all the books I'm reading, Les Miserables is the hardest to get into reading, Friday's Child is very amusing to read nice and fluffy, to my surprise The Histories thus far doesn't read like a boring history book, and A Game of Thrones has started out with a dark undertone that really reels me into the story.

I reading The Spy because The Imposter was checked out of the library already (Celeste Bradley). I am listening to Eragon.

arrr & Mplsgirl - I get that way about series reading too. I love to read series, but it is hard to wait for the next installment.

I also have a hard time remembering all the details from previous books if I have to wait a while between books. For example, I read the first 2 books in Sabrina Jeffries' School for Heiresses series quite a long time ago and now I'm kind of ready to read the next books in the series, but I don't remember enough about the first two books. I'm just going to wait a while until they're all out and then probably re-read them all at one time.

It's fun to read a series after ALL the books in the series are published. That way you can read them all in one fell swoop and all the details are fresh in your mind. Sometimes, though, it's hard to wait. :D

I am reading Let Sleeping Rogues Lie Sabrina Jeffries, the next in the School For Heiresses Series, and listening to On A Wicked Dawn by Stephanie Laurens.

I am waiting for all three of Celeste Bradley's new series to be out before I read any of them. They are coming out in Feb., March and April., I believe.

Katy, I have a terrible memory, too and with all the books I read, I could never keep them straight on my own. That's why I put a synopsis of the book, with the series #, in the comments section in my LT library. I also have a section for comments in my book journal I keep every month for the book challenge, which has helped me tremendously!

CC

I finished Kilgannon, by Kathleen Givens which is a Scottish Highland romance. It started out well and was quite promising and I was enjoying it, but then the second half just fizzled and became very hum drum with an ending that ended up in the air - primed and ready for the sequel. I was just glad it was short and easy to finish and get over with. I'll read the sequel eventually, but now, I'm beginning The Poet of Loch Ness by Brian Jay Corrigan. I don't know much about the book, but my favorite author, Diana Gabaldon, is quoted on the cover recommending it.

Last night I finished Bellwether by Connie Willis. Not your typical romance but I enjoyed it very much. I thought it was very clever.

I'm almost done with Amarantha by Melanie Jackson, finally lol. Then I'm going to venture thru Danelaw by Susan Squires.

Has anyone read this, not sure what to expect. I read the first 15 pages and it wasn't too sure about it.

I'm trying to read through all the books my mom has loaned me over the last year that are in my "tbr" pile. My next one is The Dream Thief by Shana Abe. I'm hoping it is okay that I don't remember much from the first book which I read about a year ago, because I've forgotten most of it.

Also, still reading Inkheart and an Avi kids book called Romeo and Juliet together (and alive) at last which is very cute. I really needed something simple that could make me laugh out loud.

I agree that I HATE waiting for the next installment of a series. However, sometimes you just can't wait until it's over to read it, because there isn't always a known number of installments. We knew that there were going to be seven Harry Potter books (not that I waited anyway), but we have no idea how many Anita Blake books or Dark-Hunter books there will be. Also sometimes you read a first book and then it becomes a series. Plus, when everyone else is talking about it, you don't want to be left out! Or if we all waiting to buy the books until the series was over, the publisher would never print more than the first book. Ugh! I guess sometimes you just have to wait with bated breath....*sigh*

Side (but sort of related) point: One of my favorite quotes from a movie is from the Mummy, "Patience is a virtue," says Rachel Weiss in a very singsong voice. Brendan Fraiser looks down at the mind-controlled horde coming after them and says, "Not right now, it isn't."

HA! My friends and I quote that one incessantly.

I forgot to say that I just finished Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony - speaking of having to wait until the next one!

DL, if you haven't read them yet, you should! You would definitely like them.

Right now, I'm reading Murder in the White House by Margaret Truman. I read mysteries on occasion - not my usual genres of course, expect paranormal mysteries and the In Death books. But I read an article about the author when she died recently (I had always seen her books at the store), I had never realised that she was the daughter of the former President. And since they all take place in DC (where I work), I thought I would give them a shot. This first one came out in 1980, I'm hoping it's not like older romances - the ones that don't really hold up under the test of time.

Ashleylynn, I read Danelaw by Susan Squires last year and recall that it's more real than some romances out there--more gritty, seemed more true to what I imagine real life was like (though I don't really know). The heroine is has mystical power as I recall--the ability to commune with nature and that ability drives her actions through most of the story. I'd be curious to hear what you think about it once you've read it.

>14 Ilithyia: Ilithyia - Artemis Fowl has been suggested to me a lot. It is definitely something I'll have to read in the future. I'm pretty sure my son has the first three books languishing in his room somewhere.

I finished Simply Magic by Mary Balogh last night and it was very good. Kind of slow-paced, but I enjoyed it. I am anticipating the next book in this series, Simply Perfect, but of course it will be out in hardcover first so I'll have to wait months and months for it to go to paperback. *sigh* See, this is exactly what we've been talking about with getting trapped in the middle of a series and having to wait for the next installment! ;)

Today I started My Lady Notorious by Jo Beverley. I don't always like heroine-posing-as-a-man stories, but this one is kind of different. Liking it so far.

I didn't care too much for the first Artemis Fowl, but I decided to try book 2. It just got better. So I have read them all so far and look forward to the next one.

I did it again. I bought a new release without researching it first, only to find it is a compilation of earlier stories by the same author. So, if any of you have read all of Shannon McKenna's books, don't bother with All About Men.

I am re-reading our Feb. Jo Beverley book of the Month Hazard, since I didn't get to it in Feb. I hate not having time to read. It's depressing. :(

CC

I read Falling Upwards by Kassandra Sims. It was simply awful. Honestly, I can't think what else to say about it.

The author does have some potential, so maybe I'll try her again in the future. Probably a library book or used, though.

Just finished True Grit, also just reread Nobody's Baby but Mine, starting Back on Blossom Street, and getting back to South.

I finished Deadly Gamble last night (loved it, loved it, loved it) & started Deadly Deceptions this morning.

I am currently reading Bellwether as well. It was highly recommended by a friend.

I am reading A Date with Destiny by Miranda Lee, yes it is a Harlequin (Mills and Boon) but it is the very first romance book I read (I was 14) and I recently found a copy for 75 pence and had to have it! It is, I have to say, quite hammy, and the diologue is, slightly cheesy, but i'm liking it! :)

I finished The secrets of the Heart by Kasey Michaels which was ok. Also finished Phi Beta Bimbo by Trish Jensen and loved it.

Julia

Well I've made it to page 105, it's definately different than anything I've read lol. But I'm trying to keep going and finish it.

Well, yesterday I finished Murder in the White House. It was fine as far as mysteries go. But since I'm not a stalwart mystery fan and since it didn't have any other elements to draw my attention (i.e. romance and/or paranormal thread), I probably will not continue to read them. My apologies to the late Mrs. Truman....

As we love to say, "to each her own."

I just read To Bed A Beauty by Nicole Jordan and it was a really good book. I can't wait for the last book in the trilogy to come out later this month!

I read the Shifter anthology. It was fairly good---worth reading late! Especially the last story, by Virginia Kantra, who is a new (I think) author.

While continuing my fascination with Scotland, I just finished The Poet of Loch Ness by Brian Jay Corrigan, a bittersweet, modern love story set amidst Loch Ness, well written and thoughtful. Am now about to start The Bride by Julie Garwood, my first by her.

I've been making my way through Jo Beverley's Malloren series this week. I read My Lady Notorious, Tempting Fortune, and Something Wicked. I found the heroine in Tempting Fortune a bit tiresome. She had hangups that I just didn't find very convincing. In spite of that, I still enjoyed the book on the whole. I think Something Wicked is my favorite so far. I love dark, brooding, tortured heroes. :)

ktleyed - I really enjoyed The Bride. It was my first Garwood book also. I don't usually read much medieval/scottish romance, but this one was good. There is a sequel, The Wedding, that I thought was ok, but not quite as good.

rianoel, Virginia Kantra has been around for a while, writing romantic suspense (and either Harlequins or Silhouette -- can't remember which). I really enjoy her writing so if you don't mind the genre change from paranormal to contemporary, I highly recommend her earlier books.

I finished Dangerous curves by Jacey Ford. It is the first in a trilogy. I have had it on my tbr pile for quite some time. I didn't realize it was a trilogy (I have this one and the third one). I enjoyed this one so much I am interloaning the 2nd in the trilogy, I spy.
Great mix of romance and suspense. (not much sex tho.)

I am currently reading Innocent as sin by Elizabeth Lowell. Only up to chap. 4, so we will wait and see how it is (has had mixed reveiws)

I just finished Snowfall at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs. It's book 4 in her Lakeshore Chronicles series. I have really enjoyed that series. Wiggs is one of my favorite authors.

A book I just finished a week or so ago is The Lottery by Patricia Woods. It's not a romance, but it's one of my favorite books EVER!

#31 katybear - so far I'm loving The Bride, I'm about half way throught it, I already have The Wedding, though I'm sorry to hear you didn't think it was as good. It's further down on my TBR list, so I'll get to it eventually.

This week I finished Falling in Love Again by Cathy Maxwell and Nobody's Darling by Teresa Medeiros. It was the first book I had read by Maxwell and it was okay, nothing special, but an easy and quick read. Nobody's Darling was the second book I had read by Medeiros and I must say I really enjoyed it. Again, it was a fairly quick and easy read, but I liked the setting, and LOVED the hero.

Not sure what I'm going to be reading next...

I am just about done with Let Sleeping Rogues Lie by Sabrina Jeffires. I have really liked it. It had some interesting and different angles to it. I highly recommend it. Next up is The Kiss by Nash.

I finished The Bride and absolutely loved it! I read it all in one day, I couldn't put it down! I enjoyed it very much and thought it was a cut above the usual Highland romances I've been reading nowadays. I'll definitely be reading more of Julie Garwood in the future! Now, I'm about to start A Man in a Kilt by Sandy Blair- what can I say, I can't get these Scotsmen out of my mind these days!

Ktleyed, if you are looking for more Medieval Scottish romance, I highly recommend Susan King's Maiden books, The Stone Maiden, The Sword Maiden and The Swan Maiden. I don't read much medieval stuff, but these are definitely worth the time. They are set a couple of hundred years apart, so they are not technically a series, except that they all take place in Scotland in the medieval/middle ages. The writing is exceptional. The plots are complex and deeply emotional. I felt like I'd been on a roller coaster ride when I finished The Stone Maiden.

CC

CC - thanks for the tip, I've added them to my TBR list! Sounds like just the sort of things I like to sink my teeth in, ye ken?

I read The Smoke Thief by Shana Abe. I've had it in my ebook TBR list for quite a while, and hadn't started it because I've realized I don't care much for dragon fantasies. Well, I'm sorry I waited -- it was wonderful. Great story line and I loved the main characters. I went right to the Internet to get the next one in the series, The Dream Thief, only to find that even though I can buy the paperback from Amazon for $6.99, the ebook version costs between $10 and $13 (depending on where you buy it). I hate it when the publisher doesn't reduce the ebook price when they reissue the book as a lower-cost paperback. Guess I'll be looking for it at the used book store...

I'm reading The Dream Thief now and enjoying it so far, even though I know there is a lot of background from The Smoke Thief that I'm forgetting. There is a third book in the series which I'll have to get once it comes out in paperback called Queen of Dragons.

This morning I started Secrets of the Night, from Jo Beverley's Malloren family series. I'm having a little trouble getting into it. I think maybe it's because the heroine is a married woman, only she is NOT married to the hero. I know her husband is supposed to have some weird issues and all, but really the whole adultery thing kind of bothers me any way you slice it. I'm going to keep reading, though, because the first 3 books in the series were really very good. Has anybody else read this one?

I just finished A Man in a Kilt and really loved it! This was my Scottish romance weekend! LOL! Now, I'm actually going to read something other than a Highlander romance - I'll begin The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde tomorrow.

This weekend I finished Sabrina Jeffries' Let Sleeping Rogues Lie, Thigh High by Christina Dodd, and Nauti Nights by Lora Leigh.

I really enjoyed the Jeffries and recommend it to historical readers.

I was completely engaged in Thigh High even though some of the threads of the story didn't resolve in a believable way for me, and the hero and heroine overcome their issues way to easily. Dodd is one of my favorite writers, but this book wasn't her best, even as I was totally into the hero and heroine.

I didn't really "read" Nauti Nights so much as skim it. It just didn't work the way Ms. Leigh's Breed books do. I won't be reading any others in the series.

anamuhandis, thanks for the tip on Virginia Kantra. I'll try to pick up some of them on PBS.