kmartin802's Summer Reading

School got out on Friday, June 5, so I (a school Media Specialist) dived into my TBR (to be read) pile:

1. Let Sleeping Rogues Lie by Sabrina Jeffries -- I enjoyed this Regency romance and find I have another in the series in the TBR pile somewhere. I plan to dig it out and read it too.

2. A Reckless Beauty by Kasey Michaels -- I have been reading the Beckets of Romney Marsh series and got a little behind. This one was a fast, entertaining read.

3. The Return of the Prodigal by Kasey Michaels -- This one is next in the Beckets of Romney Marsh series. A pretty good read but not as good as A Reckless Beauty.

4. Becket's Last Stand by Kasey Michaels -- This is the one I'm currently reading. It should bring the Beckets of Romney Marsh series to a conclusion. I should finish it today, too.

I'm back! I travelled to my summer home and had to wait a week until my internet was installed. Naturally, I used the time for reading.

5. The Bride of the Unicorn by Kasey Michaels -- This Regency (or so) romance is about a school teacher who is trying to clear her father's name and a Marquis who is trying to change his image so that he can gain guardianship of his niece who is being cared for by the aunt and uncle who abused him as a child. OK.

6. Quicksand by Iris Johansen -- The latest in the adventures of Eve Duncan, Joe, and Jane as Eve tries to solve the mystery of her daughter Bonnie's disappearance. Good and leaves room for more sequels.

7. Blue Smoke and Murder by Elizabeth Lowell -- I like her writing. This one is romantic suspense that also tells a lot about the American art scene in the Southwestern US.

Next I decided to read Charlaine Harris's Aurora Teagarden series (or as many as I have until some others come back into print)

8. Real Murders by Charlaine Harris -- Introduces Aurora and her setting as a murder is committed at her club which discusses real murders. It was a quick read and a real page-turner for me.

9. A Bone to Pick by Charlaine Harris -- One of her fellow members of the now disbanded Real Murders club dies and leaves Aurora her house, her money, and a mystery to solve. Aurora doesn't expect to find a skull when exploring her new house.

10. Three Bedrooms, One Corpse by Charlaine Harris -- Aurora is helping her mother out by showing a house to some new folks in town when she discovers another realtor dead in the master bedroom. She also meets a man who may be the love of her life.

11. The Julius House by Charlaine Harris -- Martin gives Aurora a house where the last owners disappeared mysteriously as a wedding present. Aurora has to solve the mystery of their disappearance and learn more about the mystery surrounding her new husband too.

Now I have to wait until the next one is published.

12. Beware a Scot's Revenge by Sabrina Jeffries -- I'm reading out of order as I try to catch up on the School for Heiresses books. They are interesting historical romances.

13. Valor's Trial by Tanya Huff -- This looks like the end of the series starring Gunnery Sargeant Torin Kerr. She's snatched off the battlefield and awakens to find herself in an underground prison camp along with her enemies. Lots of adventures and very readable.

14. The Lost Dukes of Wyndham by Julia Quinn -- I like Julia Quinn. This was readable but not her best. I'll read the second in the set when it comes out to finish the story but doubt I'll ever read the book again.

15. A Distant Magic by Mary Jo Putney -- This was a disappointing romance. It was much more a history of the abolition movement in England around the time of the American and French revolutions. I didn't believe that the characters Jean Macrae from the Guardians and Nikolai Gregori who is a mage from the African tradition would ever have a romance. The romance seemed like an unnecessary add-on.

16. Dragon's Keep by Janet Lee Carey -- The YA historical fantasy had some interesting bits but wasn't very memorable. I didn't connect with the main character and some of the events seemed very rushed while others seemed to be unnecessarily stretched out.

17. High Heels and Holidays by Kasey Michaels -- Another adventure with Maggie and Alex; I've read this before but it had a different cover--I hate when I do that.

18. The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt -- By the title I thought it was a paranormal but it was an historical romance from 1760 England. Very readable with an unconventional hero and heroine.

19. The Serpent Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt -- Another historical romance from 1760 England. This time it is a viscount pursuing revenge and an innocent country miss who sees and loves the real him. Also very readable.

Next on the pile is Kushiel's Mercy by Jacqueline Carey.

20. Kushiel's Mercy by Jacqueline Carey -- dense, political fantasy with magic and love to spare. Excellent conclusion to a fascinating fantasy.

21. Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich -- I feel like I have whiplash. From dense and thought provoking to frothy and absurd in one day. It was a pleasant read but won't be on my must read again list.

22. Dial M for Mischief by Kasey Michaels -- The Beckets move to the present day. The Sunshine sisters are trying to come to terms with their father's apparent murder of a politician's wife and his own suicide. They are sure that he was murdered but have to prove it. Movie star Jolie becomes reacquainted with Sam Becket when she comes home to help her sisters.

23. A Secret Rage by Charlaine Harris -- This is an early work written in 1984. Bascially a former model turned coed comes back to the South, is raped, and tracks down her rapist. Lots of time spent on the emotions, social consequences and recovery from rape. OK.

24. Walk on the Wild Side by Christine Warren -- excellent romance about a woman who discovers she is part Leo and travels to Las Vegas to learn about herself, meet the dying father she never knew, and find her true love. Liked the interplay between the two main characters.

25. 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom -- Witches and vampires don't get along. Except Jazz and Nick are really drawn to each other. They have a history and now they have a problem. Vampires are disappearing and the evil doer is someone Jazz thought she killed in 1932. I liked the style of this one.

26. Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas -- 1848 England; Amelia Hathaway is trying to keep her family together despite horrible luck; Cam Rohan is a Rom who is lived with other non-Rom and has a good luck curse. It's a match made in heaven or somewhere.

27. Fangs for the Memories by Kathy Love -- first dog of the summer; I didn't find the characters engaging and the plot was riddled with coincidences and generally unrealistic. It was easy to put down and hard to pick up again.

Wow, you're on a roll. I wish I had the Summer off! My husband is a teacher and has the Summer off, I am always so jealous when I have to get up and go to work and he is still in bed!

28. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead -- I thought this was going to be another dog but it got much better. Initially, the narrator was an unsympathetic character. Now I want to find out if there are more books. I hope it is a series. (After a quick visit to Amazon.com, I found out that there is another one available. So I ordered Frostbite and know there is another one coming this fall. These are YA. I'll be donating them to my HS Media Center as I finish them.)

Thanks for the comment, Rarcar1! I live for my summer vacations.

29. Grimspace by Ann Aguirre -- SF; Jax is a carrier of a rare gene that lets her navigate through space but for some reason her employers are trying to discredit or maybe kill her. She gets swept into a revolution against her former employers.

30. Desperately Seeking a Duke by Celeste Bradley -- Great-grandfather leaves a fortune to the first of his descendents who marries a duke -- but Phoebe prefers the Duke's bastard brother. It's part of a series but I won't be looking for all of them. It wasn't a favorite.

31. Hotter Than Hell anthology edited by Kim Harrison -- 13 short stories by authors of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. None of them will linger in my memory for years but all of them were readable. I'll be looking for more by Lilith Saintcrow who is new to me.

32, Hot Property by Carly Phillips -- light and entertaining contemporary romance. I like it when the main character is a professional athlete. This one is a baseball player who was in a slump and cost his team the World Series. He has fan troubles and family troubles. Luckily, Amy Stone enters the picture to get his life and love on track.

33. Double Take by Catherine Coulter -- This was another Sherlock and Savich story; There were hordes of characters and a few mysteries to solve. Interesting but I'm glad I waited for the paperback.

34, King's Shield by Sherwood Smith -- I have been waiting for this one because it completes a trilogy. It was a very enjoyable fantasy. I liked the characters.

35. Undead and Unworthy by MaryJanice Davidson -- Another light and frothy book. Betsy is still very self-absorbed but she is growing some. Everything is not about her. Just almost everything.

36. Death Angel by Linda Howard -- This is definitely not your typical romance. The main characters are a drug lord's mistress and an assassin and one of the characters dies and comes back for a second chance in the middle of the book.

37. Warrior: The Time Hunter by Angela Knight -- It's in the same world as Jane's Warlord and is a typical Knight -- lots of sex and vaguely SF.

38. Dragon Wytch by Yasmine Galenorn -- This is also the latest episode of a series I'm following; sisters who are half human and half fae and each with various skills and talents. This one is about the witch and continues the battle to keep earth from being taken over by demons.

39. Deja Demon by Julie Kenner -- Continues a series; Kate is having trouble keeping her 1st husband (that she raised from the dead sorta) from her 2nd husband, fighting demons (which she also keeps from husband #2), and arranging an Easter extravaganza for her neighborhood; fun to read.

40. Schooled in Murder by Mark Richard Zubro -- fascinating mystery about factions in a HS that lead to murder and assorted gay-bashing; this is also in a series.

41. Tribute by Nora Roberts -- excellent romantic suspense; I'm seldom disappointed by Nora Roberts.

42. Silent Thunder by Iris and Roy Johansen -- romantic suspense heavy on the suspense. I like Iris Johansen and this one did not disappoint.

43. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong -- YA book by an author who usually writes paranormal/urban fantasy. It was OK but more geared for teenagers than 5o-somethings. To be donated to my HS media center.

Time to catch up!

44. Magic Lost, Trouble Found by Lisa Shearin -- good fantasy about Raine who finds a magic medallion that leads to a source of great power and attracts many evil people who want the power.

45. Steal the Dragon by Patricia Briggs -- reprint of an early fantasy by Briggs; interesting about a slave who returns to slavery to spy for her new country

Now my Meg Cabot orgy--

46. Size 14 Is Not Fat Either by Meg Cabot -- another Heather Wells mystery; love the song excerpts that start each chapter

47. Big Boned by Meg Cabot -- another Heather Wells mystery; Cooper and Heather finally declare their love for each other

48. Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot -- first in a new series. Lizzie is a recent college graduate (history of fashion) and is travelling to Europe to spend time with a boyfriend who ends up being a jerk; she goes to France to meet with her best friend and finds a new love. Very cute story.

It's time to read some of the YA books that have been piling up.

49. Frostbite by Richelle Mead -- Sequel to Vampire Academy, I think I like this one better than the first. The main character is more likeable as she matures and I get to know her.

50. The Otherworldlies by Jennifer Anner Kogler -- I saw this at B&N and thought that my younger students who like fantasies would like it. It was good and is crying out for a sequel.

OK, made it to 50. Maybe I can get to 75 before my summer vacation is over.

51. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr -- This one has been cropping up on lists and in blogs for a while. It was very good but better for my older readers of fantasy than my younger ones.

52. Queen of Babble in the Big City by Meg Cabot -- This was an excellent summer beach kind of read -- sunny, light and frothy.

53. Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot -- interesting conclusion to the series. Lizzie is engaged to Luke who is never around, busy getting her business off the ground, and falling in love with Chaz

54. Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr -- sequel to Wicked Lovely but less engaging because of the nature of the Dark Court; Leslie gets a tattoo that links her to the Dark King and almost goes insane.

Back to a couple of YAs:

55. Princess Ben by Catherine Murdock -- interesting story of a girl growing up; magic and intrigue; donated to HS Media Center

56. House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones -- Charmain is house sitting for her wizard great uncle and gets involved in a search for treasure and an attempt to overthrow a kingdom; Sophie & Howl make are integral characters too.

Back to adult stuff:

57. Beg for Mercy by Toni Andrews -- Mercy has the power to compel people but doesn't know why. She meets a drug dealer who has similar powers and who kidnaps a friend. He says he knows her past but doesn't tell her.

58. Never Trust a Scoundrel by Gayle Callen -- This was my first and likely my last Callen. Very typical historical romance. Grace's mother loses her in a game of cards, winner wants a mistress. Of course, they fall in love.

59. Wild for Him by Janelle Denison -- This was my first by her. Won't avoid others but won't seek them out either. This is contemporary romantic suspense. Bodyguard and client fall in lust (then love) while he protects her from threats.

60. After the Kiss by Suzanne Enoch -- Isobel surprises a thief in her home. He is stealing back paintings his father stole from him. He is a noted horsetrainer and unacknowledged bastard of Marquis. She is daughter of Marquis. It was a pretty good love story.

61. Twilight Fall by Lynn Viehl -- A Darkyn novel. I am skipping around in this series. This one is about Valentin and Liling. Other characters from other novels appear too. OK.

62. Into the Fire by Suzanne Brockmann -- This is the best book I have read so far this summer. I couldn't put it down. Lots of suspense and lots of romantic relationships. I would imagine it would be confusing if one were not familiar with the rest of the series.

Next to some books I have been waiting for since I read Long May She Reign earlier this year:

63. The President's Daughter by Ellen Emerson White -- Meg's senator mom decides to run for president of the United States. This one is about primaries and campaigning and what it does to a family. She wins the election.

64. White House Autumn by Ellen Emerson White -- Meg's family moves into the White House and everyone has to adjust to their changed lives. Then the president is shot and it brings up all the terror and resentment that the family has been feeling.

65. Long Live the Queen by Ellen Emerson White -- Meg is at the end of her senior year when she is abducted, brutalized and left in an abondoned mine to die. She breaks her own hand to get out of the cuff that chains her to the wall and travels on her dislocated knee to rescue. She is rescued but still has to deal with the terror, pain and depression before she can get back to life.

This was an excellent series. I want to read Long May She Reign again now that I have read the backstory.

66. Angel of Mercy by Toni Andrews -- 2nd in series; Mercy uses her gift to help abused women and runs afoul of a man who is using his child to make kiddie porn.

67. Evermore by Lynn Viehl -- Jayr has been Byrne's seneschal for centuries and has loved him that long. Now Byrne wants to give up leadership of his jardin just when someone is eager to kill him and blame Jayr.

68. Night Lost by Lynn Viehl -- Gabriel has been captured by the Brethren and tortured and then sealed in a vault to die; Nicola is a thief who explores sealed up places looking for treasures. She rescues him but she has secrets.

69. Witch Blood by Anya Bast -- A demon is killing witches to make a gate to go home. He killed Isabelle's sister and has her on his list too. She fall in love with Thomas and they battle the demon and their love.

70. Jinx by Meg Cabot -- Jinx goes to NYC to live with aunt, uncle and cousins to get away from stalker she got by doing magic spell. Cousin is jealous that Jinx is a witch even though Jinx doesn't want to be one. Romance and jealousy in abundance. Donated to the HS Media Center.

71. Airhead by Meg Cabot -- How does a geek cope when her brain is transplanted into the body of the latest teen supermodel? What about her life? OK but cries out for sequel. Donated to the HS Media Center.

72. To Pleasure a Lady by Niclole Jordan -- Regency romance; guardian falls in love with ward and determines to marry her; she doesn't want to marry. Arabella and Marcus. 1st in trilogy about 3 sisters and 3 best friends

73. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs -- Anna and Charles, both werewolves, have problems with a witch and with their own relationship. Excellent.

74. A Stranger to Command by Sherwood Smith -- Excellent prequel to Crown Duel. Vidanric is sent to military school in Marloven Hess to get him out of the way of a king who is doing bad things to his country.

75. Turbulent Sea by Christine Feehan -- A Drake sisters novel; Joely and Ilya battle human trafficking, a deranged woman and their own fears as they find their way to love.

72. To Pleasure a Lady by Niclole Jordan -- Regency romance; guardian falls in love with ward and determines to marry her; she doesn't want to marry. Arabella and Marcus. 1st in trilogy about 3 sisters and 3 best friends

73. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs -- Anna and Charles, both werewolves, have problems with a witch and with their own relationship. Excellent.

74. A Stranger to Command by Sherwood Smith -- Excellent prequel to Crown Duel. Vidanric is sent to military school in Marloven Hess to get him out of the way of a king who is doing bad things to his country.

75. Turbulent Sea by Christine Feehan -- A Drake sisters novel; Joely and Ilya battle human trafficking, a deranged woman and their own fears as they find their way to love.

76. Before the Scandal by Suzanne Enoch -- Phin comes home from fighting Napoleon to find bad things happening. Someone is arranging all sorts of accidents to force his brother to sell. Alysse helps him figure it out.

77. To Bed a Beauty by Nicole Jordan -- 2nd in trilogy; Roslyn and Drew. When Drew first meets Roslyn he asks her to be his mistress. He doesn't believe in love and she won't marry without it.

78. To Seduce a Bride by Nicole Jordan -- 3rd in trilogy; Lily and Heath. Lily sees no advantage in marriage and loss of her independence. Heath has to convince her that he is worth the risk of marriange.

79. The Seduction of an Unknown Lady by Samantha James -- 1852; historical romance where a female best selling novelist who writes horror novels in secret meets a man who has found horror in life; she is being stalked by someone who knows horror and she has a mother in an insane asylum.

80. The Marriage Spell by Mary Jo Putney -- alternate Regency England; wizards exist but are looked down upon by the aristocracy. Abby saves Jack's life and marries him. He is uncomfortable with his own magic and is also under the spell of an evil wizard.

81. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer -- I liked it! I think that my teen age readers, especially the girls, will like it a lot. I haven't read any of the controversy. Other than wondering why there might be a campaign to send the book back. Oh well, everyone has different reading tastes. Maybe I'm an immature reader.

82, Stray by Rachel Vincent -- This paranormal is about werecats. Faythe is a tabby who wants to be independent, kick butt, and take names. Tabbies are rare and usually protected by father and enforcers. There is a scheme to kidnap tabbies and send them to South America. Faythe has to rescue herself and her young cousin when they are kidnapped.

83. Rogue by Rachel Vincent -- Faythe is now working for her father as an enforcer and learning the pride leader's job. She and her lover have to investigate when toms start showing up dead. Could it be the old boyfriend that she accidentally infected which happens to be a capital crime?

84. Gale Force by Rachel Caine -- All Joanne wants to do is plan her wedding to djinn David but other djinn, rogue Watchers and a demon are willing to take violent exception to her plans.

Time for an Olympics slowdown in reading. I can't stop watching. Who knew there was such a sport as team handball?

85. Storm Born by Richelle Mead -- Eugenie Markham is a powerful shaman trained by her stepfather. All of a sudden she becomes very popular with the fey. Seems her father was fey and there is a prophecy that says her child will rule Earth and fey.

86. Underground by Kath Richardson -- Something is loose in Underground Seattle and disturbing the homeless population. Harper and Quinton have to figure out what it is and how to stop it.

87. Acheron by Sherilyn Kenyon -- We finally hear Acheron's story and learn about his life as he finds his own true love.

Time for a few historical romances --

88. In Bed with the Devil by Lorraine Heath -- Catherine and Luke; She meets him when she asks him to commit murder for him. He is an Earl who spent time on the streets and was reclaimed by his grandfather after he killed his uncle.

89. Three Nights of Sin by Anne Mallory -- Marietta needs Gabriel when her brother is accused of murder and she has no one else to turn to. The crime seems to be pointing to Gabriel or someone he knows.

90. A Notorious Proposition by Adele Ashworth -- This one has everything; a treasure hunt, a kidnapped man, some women scorned; secret identities; and love too.

91. Duke Most Wanted by Celeste Bradley -- 3rd in trilogy; Sophie has a secret; Graham becomes a Duke and needs to marry money. Sophie should inherit some if she marries a duke before he knows she has money.

92. A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix -- FBI agent Heather is tracking a serial killer. Her chase leads her to New Orleans where she encounters vampires, fallen angels, and deep plots within the FBI.

93. Senrid by Sherwood Smith -- This story is about how Senrid went from being a king in name only and his uncle's pawn to the king of Marloven Hess,

94. Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith -- This has more of Vidanric's story as he and Meliara overthrow an evil king and their own misunderstandings (mainly Mel's) on their way to love.

95. The Duke Next Door by Celeste Bradley -- The middle book of the Heiress Bride series and the best. Lots of romance and humor. Diedre proposes to Calder after he is stood up by her cousin. She has loved him forever, he has never learned to show love.

96. Never Romance a Rake by Liz Carlyle -- Camille needs a husband fast to claim an inheritance from an uncle; Kieran rescues her when her "father" bets her in a game of cards. Two unlikely people fall in love.

97. Wicked as Sin by Jillian Hunter -- Bad boy Gabriel wins an estate in the town he left as a young man. He meets his first love and rekindles an old flame.

98. Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole -- Holly is the Vessel. Cadeon is a mercenary who will receive a sword to kill the usurper of his kingdom for turning her over to a bad guy. But she is his fated mate and they fall in love.

99. Kiss of Fire by Deborah Cooke -- Sara is an accountant who inherits a New Age bookstore from her aunt. Quinn is a blacksmith who is also a dragon. She is his mate but some ancient enemies don't want their love to run smooth.

100. The Shamer's Daughter by Lene Kaaberbol -- YA title that is first in a series of 4. Dina and her mother have a talent to look in a person's eye and see their shame and force them to see it too. Her mother is being coerced to condemn a young man for the murder of his family which would make him heir to the kingdom. Dina has to rescue the heir and her mother.

101. Dark Light by Jayne Castle -- Sierra and Fontana enter a Marriage of Convenience to try to track down who is distributing a new drug that targets Hunters and who is kidnapping retired Hunters.

102. The TruthTeller's Tale by Sharon Shinn -- Twin sisters, one a truth-teller and one a secret-keeper, grow up and fall in love.

103. The Dream-Maker's Magic by Sharon Shinn -- Kellen, a girl who was raised as a boy, is best friends with Gryffin who has also had a hard life. Both have adventures, grow up, and see dreams come true.

104. Duainfey by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller -- Rebecca is "ruined" and has only two bad choices for her future. She chooses the High Fey Altimere and finds that she is used by him to gain allies and dispose of enemies until she manages to free herself.

Summer is over. School starts tomorrow. Time to start a new challenge. Look for me in the 75 Book Challenge group (but only because there isn't a 100 book challenge group anymore).

Do the Aurora Teagarden series have to be read in order? I think I may have read a couple waaaay back when (but I don't remember!) and your reviews of them made them sound interesting. I would like to try and get them from the library, but sometimes they don't have the first book or have the entire series or whatever.