It’s late, but it’s here! This week’s top 10 is all about good reviews, good books, and (HELLO AGENCY PUBLISHERS) fair pricing.
- Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost [Amazon | Kobo | BN.com]
- I Love the Earl by Caroline Linden [Amazon | Kindle | BN & nook | Kobo | WORD Brooklyn]
- Lord and Lady Spy by Shana Galen [Kindle | Kobo | BN]
- In Bed with the Boss by Susan Napier [Kindle | Kobo | BN | Harlequin.com]
- Cassie Palmer Series by Karen Chance [ Kindle | Kobo | BN | WORD Brooklyn ]
- Doukakis’s Apprentice by Sarah Morgan [Amazon | Kindle | BN & nook | Harlequin.com]
- Conor’s Way by Laura Lee Guhrke [Kindle | BN ]
- Unclaimed by Courtney Milan [Amazon | Kindle | BN & nook | Kobo | Harlequin.com]
- Miss Darby’s Duenna by Sheri Cobb South [Amazon | Kindle | BN & nook]
- A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant [Amazon | Kindle | BN & nook]
So what did you read this weekend? Share share!
I’ve been reading “Just My Type” (a book about fonts) & “Help! For Writers.”
On the romance front, I read a completely insane Lynne Graham HP, where the hero impregnates the heroine but can’t remember sleeping with her. They get married and angst follows. That said, the hero was definitely not as awful as he could have been.
I’ve been reading Lauren Dane’s Inside Out and loving it. I just finished This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (one back from the most current in her series) and also Stroke of Midnight by Bonnie Edwards. Both were good but not fantastic for me.
Next up is Studenstein by Daisy Harris. I’m hoping it’s as much over the top fun as it sounded in the blurb!
One last note – you can get Unclaimed by Courtney Milan for under $5 on Kobo if you use a 20% off code. This code: oct2romance20 expires after 10/2, today, but there are quite a few other kobo codes out there for 20% off.
I read Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh (finally) and I really, really enjoyed it. I haven’t loved all of the psy/changeling books, but I keep reading them and I’m glad I read this one.
Just read Lauren Willig’s “The Seduction of the Crimson Rose.” (Yeah, I know, I’m way behind.) Started it yesterday, finished it today. It is hands-down my favorite in the series; Mary and Vaughn are such great characters. If anyone can point me at other books featuring a Vaughn-like hero, I’d be thrilled!
I’m reading the following three series at the same time:
– Willig’s “Pink Carnation” books
– Wrede and Stevermer’s “Sorcery and Cecelia” books
– Novik’s “Temeraire” books
Though the last two have a fantasy element to them, I think anyone who liked any of these series might enjoy the others. It’s interesting reading all these takes on the Napoleonic era, and I’m just waiting for some fanfic writer to cross them all over.
I visited the used bookstore across the street and picked up “Bright Flows the River” by Taylor Caldwell and the Garden Trilogy by Nora Roberts.
Currently listening to (on audiobook) The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. It’s pretty great although not a romance (at least not yet).
Romance-wise I’ve been getting into the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by Ward and rereading some of Amanda Quick’s novels.
I finished DUKAKIS’S WOMAN by Sarah Morgan. I really liked it a lot but there were a few missing words in the first few chapters and they chafed the Hero’s sister’s name back and forth at least three times. It bugged me! I am now reading IN PUSUIT OF ELIZA CYNSTER.
Oops!! DUKAKIS’S APPRENTICE (not Woman) and they changed Hero’s sister’s name. They didn’t Chafe her(uncomfortable). I need to double check before I send.
Just FYI, the links for several of the books on this list all take me to Unclaimed by Courtney Milan.
Dead Beat, by Jim Butcher.
Go, Dresden!
spamword: Usually24. Well, I’m current 24…
I have both of the new Cynster books at home, waiting to be read. My husband rushed out and bought the first one as it became available and has already finished it. I have been reading older stuff from Jayne Ann Krentz (in all incarnations) and some early Mary Balogh. The descriptions of sex in the Baloghs are interesting to say the least
Looked up Courtney Milan’s website and found out Unclaimed had been released LAST WEEK! I immediately downloaded it to the Kindle and snuck moments to read it while the out-of-town boyfriend was busy. “Why don’t you go pick up the take out yourself, babe. I’m just so tired, and I’m in my sweatpants, and not…..uh…..not feeling great.” Heard the front door click, Kindle came out and I devoured it. I’m not sure which book in the series I like more. Still looking forward to learning about Smite, though.
@Faye – OOPS. Thanks for the heads up – my fault! All fixed now I think.
I’ve started reading the Night Huntress series ever since the blog post on here advertising the first book for $1.99. Rotten trick, because now I have to pay $8.99 for each subsequent book :-/
They are pretty good but I’m about 1/3 of the way through the third book and the plot seems to have stagnated a bit.
I’m reading Halfway to the Grave. Bought it based on the $1.99 deal for my NOOK that I read about right here at SBTB. I’m loving it! Had always heard that Bones was a great hero, and he’s not disappointing. I’m organizing an “All Romance ALL THE TIME” book club for Malaprop’s here in Asheville. Malaprop’s is consistently voted one of the best independent booksellers in the nation, and I’m excited to be involved in this new offering. I’m putting Halfway to the Grave on the reading list. To begin the club with a bang, I’m suggesting our first book should be EIKAL. Sarah, any chance you could come to Asheville to get the party started?
I read Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson. What a beautiful writer she is, though the book is a bit harrowing. Not a romance but worth the read.
I read Halfway to the Grave and didn’t love it – the heroine reads like “generic urban fantasy a**-kicker” to me, and the hero reminds me of Spike. I mean, I loved Spike. Who didn’t love Spike? But still. Anyway, when I was done, I had no desire to read any of the sequels, so that’s that.
Read Unclaimed. Loved it. It was, as I read in a review somewhere, a bit on the low-conflict side, but I adored it.
I can’t get enough of Cat and Bones, that whole series is just fantastic! So getting the first one with bonus materials was a nice surprise. My library now has the entire series (except for the latest release) in audiobook format, and I think they’re even better that way. Tavia Gilbert does a great job with voicing the characters and pacing the action.
As for Cat being a generic heroine, I think she starts off that way but she definitely grows and changes throughout the series. Which is one of the reasons I love the books. Cat seems very emotionally immature and brash in the beginning, but she develops along the way, as does Bones. The arc of their relationship and how it deepens in trust is the highlight of the series for me.
I’ve been snickering over First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones. It seems to be setting up the standard Urban Fantasy triangle of “Heroine & two hot men—which will she choose?” but I’m enjoying the writing. Reminds me a bit of early Stephanie Plum, but with supernatural elements.
Wasted some time reading “Prey” by Linda Howard. Sigh… Like being inside the head of someone with OCD. What happened to the old Linda Howard? So sad when a good writer becomes… mediocre.
Just FYI, the links for several of the books on this list all take me to Unclaimed by Courtney Milan.
Best. Coding. Error. Ever.
In my totally unbiased opinion, of course.
This weekend I read Royal Harlot (historical fiction) by Susan Holloway Scott, and I really liked it. I found out about her from the blog she shares with Loretta Chase, Link text.
It mad me want to read more historical fiction about interesting (thought not always likable) women.
Oopsust here you go:
http://twonerdyhistorygirls.blogspot.com/
How on earth did I miss that Caroline Linden had a new book? And not only that but it’s only 89cents? WHAT?! Excuse me while I break my Code of Poise and squee my britches off. SQUEEEE!
I reread Pamela Clare’s Breaking Point. But, when my twelve year old asked me what I was reading, I told her I was reading Bill Bryson’s Home. It’s only a matter of time before she realizes what’s really on my Kindle…
Sarah, STOP, please I beg you! Stop listing the best selling romance novels. I read the comments and get sucked in. My wallet is tired from opening. ARGHH! This is getting like romance crack.