This is the Open Thread for Readers to post about books that they are interested in reading this month, are looking forward to next month, have in their ever looming TBR piles and so forth. Anything that you want to post about, go forth and post.
REVIEW: The Principal's Office by Jasmine Haynes
REVIEW: Heat by R. Lee Smith
REVIEWS: Master Class and SUBlime by Rachel Haimowitz
REVIEW: Still Hot For You by Diane Escalera
REVIEW: The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges
GUEST REVIEW: Surprises According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney
REVIEW: Eternal Captive by Laura Wright
REVIEW: Alpha Instinct by Katie Reus
REVIEW: Sleepwalker by Karen Robards
REVIEW: Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James
REVIEW: Not Wicked Enough by Carolyn Jewel
REVIEW: Breakaway by Deirdre Martin
Return and Redownload Policies for Ebook Purchases
REVIEW: Under His Influence by Justine Elyot
REVIEW: Her Husband's Harlot by Grace Callaway
REVIEW: Last Man Standing by Cindy Gerard
REVIEW: The Husband Recipe by Linda Winstead Jones
REVIEW: The Whip by Karen Kondazian
REVIEW: Shadow's Stand By Sarah McCarty
REVIEW: Firelight by Kristin Callihan
REVIEW: The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey
REVIEW: Fracture by Megan Miranda
REVIEW: The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig
REVIEW: The Players' Club series by Cathy Yardley
Well, I guess I’ll get things started…
I believe Fire Study is out this month, so I plan on reading that this month. I liked Poison Study better than Magic Study, but I’m still looking forward to reading more about Yelena and Valek.
I’m interested in it but because I was less than thrilled with Magic Study and because I’ve read such great paranormals in the meantime, I can’t quite bring myself to buy this one. I’ll wait to hear what others say. Like you.
At the top of my list: Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas, A Reason To Sin by Maureen McKade and Baby, I’m Yours (an April SSE) by Karen Templeton. Now let’s see if I actually get them read in March…..
I second all 3 of Wendy’s choices–they’re on my list, too. And I’ll throw in Mary Balogh’s Simply Perfect. Even though I haven’t found the Simply series to be nearly as good as her earlier work, I’m still first in line when she has a new title coming out.
I’m dying (no pun intended) to get my hands on First You Run by Roxanne St. Claire. Love the Bullet Catchers! Plus, this is the first book of a new trilogy with a storyline that carries through the three books. Cannot. Wait.
If you love romantic suspense or hot heroes, you should really give these books a try. Delish!
I’m not sure if the place for me to post this is here or in the author thread, but as I’ve already said elsewhere, my critique partners, Sherry Thomas and Meredith Duran, both have new books coming out March 25th. And even though I’ve read and enjoyed Private Arrangements and The Duke of Shadows, and have both books on my PDA and my hard drive, it’s another experience to hold a paper book in your hands. (No offense whatsoever to authors and publishers of e-books, but I love paper books as physical objects — the weight of them, the crispness of their pages, and especially that new book smell). So needless to say, I am looking forward to that.
The other March book I was really looking forward to before I read it was Lydia Joyce’s Shadows of the Night. The book comes out tomorrow, and I just spent this evening writing my review of it, which will post on Wednesday, so when that happens you guys can see what I thought.
There are also several books that have been out awhile that I want to read. Joanna Bourne’s The Spymaster’s Lady, Bettie Sharpe’s Ember, and Ann Aguirre’s Grimspace top the list.
Came across “Tort & Retort” during my weekly FW purchase:
I don’t do reviews (have not the talent/patience/work ethic) and I don’t read much non-m/m romance these days, but my curiosity is piqued enough to pay $1.66 if anyone wants a copy (via FW).
Just finished Grimspace tonight and really liked it but had to go buy it in print since it’s only offered in Mobi format for ebooks…ughh, I’m so sick of the various ebook formats!
I am also looking forward to Roxanne St Clair’s new book as I loved His Style of Seduction, it was an entertaining read.
Last night I read Susan Johnson’s new book, At Her Service and I recommend it as a good historical spy romance. I know she’s gotten poor reviews for her last few books but this one is a throwback to her earlier books and had a good twisty plot with an interesting hero. It’s no Spymaster’s Lady but wasn’t a bad way to spend the evening either.
I want to read Private Arrangements and keep checking for the ebook at Fictionwise and also for Maureen McKade and Kathleen Eagle’s books …may have to make another trip to Borders on my lunch hour in a few days and see if they are available there yet.
I’m planning a big binge in the near future as I bought 15 older Katherine Sutcliffe books on ebay this weekend. I’ve only read a few of her books but enjoyed each, she can sure tell a story and hooks you in the first few pages.
I have Tort and Retort–the author sent me a copy, but I have not read it.
I’m never up on new releases, but I do want to read the Sherry Thomas book, and I have every intention of reading more Nalini Singh and Marjorie Liu this month, even though, to my knowledge, neither has a release. I’m just that perpetually behind.
For those of you who want a new release database there is one at this website. http://www.mybgarden.com/reldate.html
I think I got the link from romantictimes forum thread a few months ago but not positive. It is a wonderful resource though.
I just finished Tee John’s story in Wild Jinx by Sandra Hill.
Loved it! Sandra has written about Tee John in a lot of her books, following his life from early teens on as a secondary character, it was great to read him as the hero in his own book!
An observation: Our Kroger is more reliable for having new releases than our Books A Million! For the third straight month I’ve gone to BAM to purchase new releases on their release date and they don’t have them in stock yet but then I go grocery shopping and Kroger has plenty of copies.I quit trying walmart, they’ve messed up their book section so badly I’m surprised they still have one.
Caitlin Kittredge’s book Night Life releases today. I’ve read a copy already and it’s awesome, totally worth buying.
I’m mainly anticipating a number of paranormal/urban fantasy releases like L.A. Banks, Charlaine Harris, and Marjorie M. Liu, besides a few historicals (Private Arrangements and the Duran one, Beverly Jenkins’s upcoming release, Elizabeth Hoyt’s new series, etc)–oh and I can’t wait to get my hands on Dara Girard’s Black Stockings Society series. The man on the cover of the first book looks like Blair Underwood!
Is the new Lisa Kleypas out this month? And the new Celeste Bradley?? I am looking forward to Fire Study, and then there are a couple of books that I have been waiting for for ages but they still haven’t come out here!
I am really bad at keeping track of new releases!
I just finished reading a few ebooks: Ruby Storm’s Twilight Kisses and Monica Burns’ Mirage. They were both good, but I really enjoyed Mirage. The hero in Twilight was a bit too beta for my taste, but still an enjoyable book. I am set to read the two Atlantis books by Alyssa Day, Atlantis Rising and Atlantis Awakening. I think her third one comes out in May.
I just picked up Fire Study and The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison- I’ve been really looking forward to both. I’m also re-reading the Obernewtyn series right now. I just got the most recent book, The Stone Key, shipped over from Australia. It’s about 1000 pages long and about eight years in coming so needless to say, I’m beyond excited to read it.
I’m really looking forward to Shadows of the Night (Lydia Joyce). Can’t wait to read your review, Janine. The set up and the excerpt both sounded great.
I still have to get Jaci Burton’s Riding Wild and I’m dying to read Catherine Anderson’s Morning Light and Victoria Alexander’s The Perfect Wife.
I just finished quite a few fabulous books as well Unleashing the Storm by Sydney Croft (Their 2nd book and it was as good if not better than the first), Hara’s Legacy and Davin’s Quest by Bianca D’Arc, Predatory Game by Christine Feehan, Unbreakable and Stripped Away by Sydney Somers, An Affair Before Christmas by Eloisa James and Pleasure Exchange by Cathryn Fox. All very good books and well worth checking out.
Bianca and Sydney Somers’ books are series books, both have very different takes on the Paranormal Genre and show incredible promise, I would not be surprised to see these two women scooped up by NY very soon.
In the m/m category I cannot wait for the next JL Langley. Josh Lanyon’s Dangerous Ground looks awfully good. For romance: Sarah McCarty has a new series coming out in May/June which I’m looking forward to, but Sam’s Creed is the one I’m drumming my fingers on the table for. And Charlaine Harris’ next Sookie book. And the next Elizabeth Hoyt.
I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of Witch Blood by Anya Bast. I loved her fist book Witch Fire.
I think all of the Wal-Mart’s are different since they use different distributors. I will note that about two months ago I said to the book woman “Why don’t we have mysteries?” I checked the books yesterday after she was in, and it’s chock full. Guess what I’m buying today. And my next read will be Damsels In Distress by Joan Hess…a favorite author (who I hadn’t seen anything by for awhile) writing a Renaissance Faire mystery? Wow.
I seem to be in mystery mode…I’m currently reading the first in Yasmine Galenorn’s China n’ Chintz mystery series and I’m loving it…I’m staying up much too late reading because I can’t seem to put it down until I nod off.
As an aspiring writer I’m looking forward to checking out what Sourcebooks new Casablanca line is going to be all about. Their May 1st release Call of the Highland Moon by Kendra Leigh Castle looks really good.
I’m looking most forward to Blue Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas. I just finished Grimspace by Ann Aguirre, and now worship at her feet. I’ve got Virgin River by Robyn Carr and will be starting that next. I hope I like it since there are two more after it, if I do.
I’ve never heard of Fire Study. Who is the author? What’s the story?
In the YA world, I’d like to put in a plug for A Curse as Dark as Gold, by Elizabeth C. Bunce (historical-ish Rumpelstiltskin retelling, melancholy, but with a good love story) and Sherwood Smith’s A Posse of Princesses (secondary-world fantasy, heavier on the politics than the magic, but possessed of a love story that I thought was cute and a bit surprising at the end).
Other than Sherry Thomas (which I am planning on buying), are there any big historical romance releases?
I’m starting to feel a glom coming on, and I need some suggestions for good reads!
MaryKate: Fire Study is written by Maria Snyder. It’s the third book in a fantasy series that started with Poison Study, then followed up with Magic Study. Poison Study was about a woman who escapes a death sentence by becoming a poison taster but then later discovers she has magic powers.
Other than Sherry Thomas (which I am planning on buying), are there any big historical romance releases?
The Gather winner, Meredith Duran’s book, is coming out at the end of March. That’s a historical. I’ve fallen off the Mary Balogh bandwagon but her hardcover is released at the end of the month . . .
I just read the excerpt for Meredith Duran’s book and it is excellent. Is she getting good press, I hadn’t heard of her until now?
Has anybody else fallen in love with Linda Lail Millers Deadly books? I just finished the second one Deadly Deceptions. They were GREAT! I just got a friend hooked on them too. I don’t normally like first person but these books hooked me right away. After reading Deadly Gamble I was hoping it wasn’t a fluke and that I would like book 2 as well as 1. I’m sold, book 2 was a 1 day read. You must start with book 1 these are not stand alones. If you like, mysteries, romance, humor or paranormals this book will fufill all. At times they really tug at heart strings too. Anyway, I’d like to know what y’all think.
I’ll have to look up Meredith Duran.
Mary Balogh is one of those ‘sleeper’ authors for me. I don’t remember her until I see her book at the bookstore/grocery store, and then I’m all “Oh!” and buy it. And enjoy it.
I’ve been on a reading binge for Ritas. And since Jane has said more than once on this blog that she goes to categories for good, straight contemp romances, I picked categories to judge.
So far, one wall-banger, one mediocre, one pleasantly diverting, and one unexpected gem: I was most favorably impressed by Lucy Gordon’s The Mediterranean Rebel’s Bride.
So impressed, I immediately looked it up here at DA, and found out that it was shortlisted for the RNA award.
It’s not a perfect book, I thought it started out a little clunky and I would have liked a little more of the Neapolitan atmosphere, but it is intense, with a lot of emotional depth and surprising sprinkles of humor. The characters are smart and sensitive and sensible.
I understand it can be found at Fictionwise for less than $3. I’d say that’s $3 well spent.
Well, Jane, I am dying to read Julia Spencer-Fleming’s next book, I Shall Not Want – you really should read her. I am giving you a hard nudge. That’s about the only book I am anticipating thus far. Oh, I am gearing up to read The Spymaster’s Lady because I am in the mood for a meaty historical and the Lara Adrian that I said I would read. I’m a reader who reads in moods. Stuff that don’t interest me now will look interesting to me later. Go figure. Of course, reading more graphic novels that I already own – I am avoiding’s Jan’s reviews.[g]
Currently catching up with the Dark Hunter series on book 5 I think. Then I will attempt to catch up with Anita Blake books (it’s a sickness people) then on to the Lara Adrian’s series I need to wrap that up soon before the next one comes out. Been looking forward to reading Dawn’s Awakening by Lora Leigh (I LOVE HER) As far as historical I need to get ahold of Private Arrangement and recently discovered Juliet Landon so ordered all her older books. Other than that I’m not too busy huh?
Oh and I am reading a lot of how to write better books. No wonder my head is always in books.
If I’m not mistaken, because of a very tight publication schedule — the book won the gather.com contest at the end of October and is being published March 25th — ARCs for The Duke of Shadows were not sent out until very recently. The only place I have seen it reviewed so far has been the RT site, where it got a grade of 4 1/2 stars (I believe their highest grade is 4 1/2G; they don’t give out 5 stars anymore).
Hopefully more reviews will appear as the publication date nears.
Sherry Thomas said-
“It's not a perfect book, I thought it started out a little clunky and I would have liked a little more of the Neapolitan atmosphere, but it is intense, with a lot of emotional depth and surprising sprinkles of humor. The characters are smart and sensitive and sensible.”
I can’t pass up a book described as intense or with emotional depth. Humor I can do without in a romance but intensity and emotional depth makes for a keeper for me. Thanks for the tip, Sherry Thomas. I added The Mediterranean Rebel’s Bride to my Fictionwise cart. I’d previously ignored it because of that freaking title.
I read the Gordon book the other day and had to buy Italian’s Wife by Sunset because it is the “prequel” to the Mediterranean one. Sherry is right that the initial writing is clunky and there is a certain stylistic prose that bothers me in Gordon’s book but whoo boy, the emotional impact is great.
The Italian’s Wife by Sunset is about a younger man/older woman story and the ending is so non traditional HEA but it worked for me.
This month I’m most looking forward to Witch Blood by Anya Bast, Midnight Rising by Lara Adrian and Blue Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas. I’m sure I’ll end up buying more, and I still have plenty of unread books on my shelves from last month, and the month before, and the month before that, and well, you got the picture! ;)
I used to read a lot of categories when I was in college, and Lucy Gordon was one of my favorite authors in that sub-genre. Her books were usually good for emotional intensity. And she frequently used Italy as a setting, which I also enjoyed very much. I should catch up with what she’s writing now. So many books, so few hours to read them…
I have her first book, In the Bleak Midwinter, TBR (with about a zillion other books). Maybe I’ll get to it sometime and review it here. Don’t hold me to it, though. I really want to, but I still haven’t gotten to the third Megan Whalen Turner book.
I’m looking forward to Murder Melts in Your Mouth by Nancy Martin. Awful title but a great series.
I also just bought Madhouse by Rob(yn) Thurman.
Lots of great suggestions here, some I’ve never heard of and will have to check out.
I just finished reading Susan Squires’ Body Electric – which I found really interesting. I was surprised that it was published as a romance novel, actually, because it struck me as a much stronger sci-fi novel; the romance was somewhat secondary. But, it was a really excellent sci-fi novel, so I’d definitely recommend it!
I just started reading The Spymaster’s Lady, on the basis of the nine million recommendations I’ve read! Next on my to-buy list are Rob Thurman’s Madhouse and Anya Bast’s Witch Blood. But first, probably the new C.E. Murphy book which is sitting and waiting for me to be done with my current read!
I have Body Electric TBR as well…
I just read The Kiss by Sophia Nash that just came out last week. It was fantastic!! I highly recommend. I am also looking forward to Private Arrangements to come out…since I did not win a copy here! ;)
I have just finished the new C E Murphy book,House of Cards and enjoyed it very much. I have a question for the covers fairy through, why a book with a heroine described as having caffe au lait skin and to whom her identity of a african americam woman is very important, features a white woman on the front – of the previous book in this series as well? Covers often have little to do with the content but really.
Off to read Dawn’s Awakening.
As for the other – I won’t hold you to it, Janine but I am glad that you have it. I know it’s not going to be everybody’s cup of tea but I love her work and it’s about the only series I’m excited about these days.
As for the Turner book – awesome read but be patient with it. The first couple of chapters will have you going what the heck is going on here. But wait. It’s one of those stories that really grabs you in the end. I really want to reread those books but I am rereading Asaro right now.
Thanks Keishon. Which Asaro are you reading? I have only read one of her books, The Veiled Web, but I liked it very much.
I want to try some ‘romantic fantasy’ that was recommended on another site, as I haven’t read a new fantasy author in years. I’d like to start with Jennifer Roberson and Jacqueline Carey.
I also want to get at least halfway through this history of shoujo manga that I’m reading, but I need to make a cheat sheet of Japanese eras (the dates in the book are all listed as years of an Emperor’s rule) so I can keep the dates straight.
Other than that, I’m getting about 7 new romance videogames (I’m ridiculously excited about them) next week and will probably drop out of sight for a while to play them ^_^ Sorry for that totally OT comment…
Wait, I have to pop in for this — there are romance video games? Tell me more!
As for March reads… I’m making my list. So far: Ann Aguirre’s Grimspace; Lydia Joyce’s newest; Susan Krinard’s paranormal for the Roaring 20s!! setting (how cool is that?!?), and Sherry Thomas’s Private Arrangements.
For a second I thought all the talk of Lisa Kleypas meant that we were getting a historical from her this month, and I got very excited. Haven’t tried her contemporaries yet… perhaps I should do that.
That is ultracool!!! I’m off to investigate…
Back from investigating. I see that the Krinard book is a vampire romance called Dark of the Moon. It came out March 1st.
Sad to say, this is not the first instance of it happening and I seriously doubt it will be the last.
I love the Kushiel series. I probably could have done without her Sundering duology but the Kushiel books? That’s where Carey’s at.
Dating games? Are they those dating sims from Japan? I’ve heard about them before, but I don’t know much about them.
Let’s see… I just placed a big Amazon order. Authors included are:
Meredith Duran
Jasper Fforde
Jim C. Hines
Tamara Lejeune
Moira J. Moore
Sharon Shinn
Liz Williams
Some are old favorites, and others are new (or new to me) authors I’m excited to try out.
I’m really looking forward to your book, Meredith. I almost never buy historicals anymore; the only time I do is if they sound unusual in some regard, and yours certainly qualifies. Plus your writing was just lovely in the excerpt I read.
Oh, how cool! Thank you, Ann! Hope you like it. :)
The Radiant Seas – it’s the second book and the direct sequel to Primary Inversion, which is the first book in the Ruby Dynasty series. I love Asaro but funnily enough, I haven’t read The Veiled Web (will read it for TBR Day next month).
I’ll have to stop by your blog to see what you thought of The Veiled Web.
I just read Farrah Rochon’s Deliver Me for the Ritas. And as I was reading it, I kept wondering why I’ve never heard of her. Cuz people, this is a contemporary romance of almost Susan Elizabeth Phillips level quality, and without the sometimes strenuous initial setup in some SEP novels.
It had heart, it had spirit, it had sass. It had a hero and a heroine who are both ace physicians and hot and likable. And it had a heartbreaking secondary romance that was totally intense and unusual.
Recommended.
I think I’ll be getting that one too, after I finish all my Rita reading (deadline tomorrow and I still have 1.5 novels plus 1 novella to go) and after I’ve had a chance to rest my poor eyes. It would be the first time I ever shell out money for a category romance not written by a RWA chapter mate.
Jia and Meredith,
Yup, the games are Japanese, although dating sim is kind of a misnomer – only some are really ‘sims’ (which means you build up stats), and a lot don’t have dating as a major part of the plot. That’s what my blog is about, usually I call them ‘otome games’, it works best for me when referring to romance games for women.
There was one available in English (called Yo-Jin-Bo, a comedy set in samurai-era Japan), but the publisher has gone out of business :(. I love them, IMO they’re totally fun – a lot are totally fluffy and pretty and some are shamelessly, indulgently over-the-top melodramatic, but I love that about them. :D
Here’s one of the better pics I have:
Hope it works…
Thanks, Jill! I checked out the wiki link — this made me laugh: “The main character (the player) often has several parameters, such as looks, style, intelligence, talent, etc., that can be raised through various activities in normal gameplay. The potential partners usually require a certain parameter or parameters to be at a certain level for them to fall in love with you.”
I’ve never heard it put quite that way before… but it sounds about right! ;)
Just finished Lynda Sandoval’s The Other Sister for the Ritas. And I think I might very well give it a 9 out of a 9, cuz I want it to be nominated and to win!
You are killing my pocket book!
Peggy,
I’m curious about the Johnson. When does it take place? The reason I’m asking is that there’s another book with a Marquis Darley (Duff) named ‘When Someone Loves You’.
Thanks!
LOL, Meredith – I admit that I wrote most of that wiki entry. Let me tell you, if anyone says that romance novels are formulaic, they ain’t seen nothing yet! The otome game industry is still in its infant stages, but its commercial products are, shall we say, not exactly revolutionizing gender politics – although one thing I think they don’t have is the annoying vrigin/whore dichotomy – I believe because Japanese society as a whole doesn’t have that history.
Now ask me why I love them, and I have no good answer – except that they are fun, and they are evolving…in fits and starts…
Jane:
You are killing my pocket book!
Hey, I can’t be blamed for your impulse-control issues.
Or can I?
I’ve read Fire Study now. I guess I’m glad I read it to get the resolution of Yelena’s story, but I wasn’t wowed by the book as I was with Poison Study. There’s so much going on in the book and in addition, so much of the story takes place on the road, traveling around various locations. I don’t want to give away spoilers so I’ll leave my comments at that, but I think I’m going to pretend to myself that Poison Study is a stand alone title and enjoy as such.
Anji – Thanks for reading it and reporting back. It confirms my suspicions based on the weakness of Magic Study. I’ll try Snyder again the next go around.
C.E. Murphy complained mightily to the Powers That Be about that non-ethnic cover–did no good.
I still haven’t read MAGIC STUDY–has it come out in mass market size yet? I want to read MAGIC before I pick up FIRE STUDY.
It’s getting late in the month, and a lot of the books I’ve read, I didn’t realize were out this month, till someone mentioned them. Nalini Singh’s new book was just out (fabulous), and Celeste Bradley’s DESPERATELY SEEKING A DUKE–it’s got plenty of her delightful dialogue. I really liked the way she showed “love at first sight.” Snaffled up Lydia Joyce’s SHADOWS IN THE NIGHT and liked it a lot. I’m partway through Victoria Alexander’s THE PERFECT WIFE, and enjoying it. It sounds as if I’m on a historical binge–and I suppose I am, the past day or two. (In the past week, I’ve also read Deborah Smith’s A GENTLE RAIN and Justine Dare’s AVENGING ANGEL–and I think one other, but my stack is at home and I’m at the paper, so…)
I’m a mood reader too. I have to be in the right mood–but a lot of times, once I’ve read a book (or two) in a particular genre, I need to move to a different one, because that mood’s been met.
I’ve really liked Kim Harrison’s series, but she does have a tendency to torture her heroine, so I may need to read a few light books before I tackle THE OUTLAW DEMON WAILS. I have to be up before I can handle the torture… Oh! And I have GRIMSPACE sitting in the living room waiting for me. Maybe I’ll start that one next…
HI. My name is Gail and I’m a bookaholic. Even worse, I’m a bookaholic who reads fast, which means I need more books to feed my habit.
Btw, Fictionwise is running a special offer through April 2 – 50% Micropay rebate on all ebooks.
I’m going to be adding some reading material to my TBR pile.