Nov 12 2012
November Recommendations from Dear Author
This month we are trying to recommend books that come out in November. We kind of failed you last month. Sorry guys. Sadly we are either not reading the right books or November was full of mediocrity. You should tell us in the comments what we are missing.
Scorched by Laura Griffin. Griffin is a perrenial recommendation for Jayne and Jane. If you like romantic suspense, this one will be a good adventure. It should be noted that Jayne doesn’t ordinarily like military books or romantic suspense by Griffin hits all the right notes for her. Review on Wednesday!
Banished to the Harem by Carol Marinelli. This book is recommended with caveats. The book is a captivity narrative where the heroine is taken from her home and installed in a new culture against her will. If that basic plot is going to bother you, then I recommend avoiding. Otherwise, it is one of the better captivity narratives I’ve read in a while and I was impressed with how Marinelli used the trope and really made you fall in love with the desert culture. Review on Wednesday!
Suddenly You by Sarah Mayberry. As Dabney, who reviewed it for Dear Author stated, Sarah Mayberry seems to deliver consistently wonderful contemporary romances. I apologize to everyone for ruining the story in the comments. To those who haven’t read the book yet, don’t read my comments. Reviewed here.
All He Ever Desired by Shannon Stacey. Stacey, like Mayberry, is becoming one of those consistently good reads. I’ve read Stacey since back in her Ellora’s Cave days. I admit I wasn’t instantly won over. When she started the Kowalski series, I still was stubbornly unconvinced of her brilliance but with Yours to Keep I fell hard for the Kowalski series. Review tomorrow!
Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor. Jia has had a hard year of reading. None of her favorites really panned out for her and the new authors she has read aren’t bringing anything new or interesting to the table. Thus, a recommended read in 2012 from Jia is rare. Not like unicorn sighting rare, but close. Reviewed here.
Exposed to You by Beth Kery. Remember the excerpt? Hot, right? The entire book is like that. I know the book is expensive at $9.99 but it is a full length erotic romance that blends the hot with the a wonderful romance. Reviewed here.
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Nov 12, 2012 @ 14:52:16
I am surprised that there is no review of Lord’s Fall by Thea Harrison.
Nov 12, 2012 @ 15:08:00
Juliet Marillier’s Flame of Sevenwaters is the sixth Sevenwaters book, and is a November publication. Maeve is the Sevenwaters daughter who is the heroine here. The author has said that this may be the last book in that very popular series. It brings together several threads from previous books, but could probably be read as a standalone – having said that it’s more enriching to have also read Heir of Sevenwaters (where Clodagh, Maeve’s sister, is the heroine) and Child of the Prophecy (when Maeve first appears in the series). If you have not read this fantasy/mythology series, you are in for a treat, and I would recommend it highly – start with the first book, Daughter of the Forest.
Nov 12, 2012 @ 16:22:58
Other UK readers may like to know that Cecilia Grant’s A Gentleman Undone is now available here. I downloaded it yesterday and am loving it so far.
Nov 12, 2012 @ 17:06:54
How did I miss that Exposed to You excerpt?! *fans self*
I read and really enjoyed Suddenly You this weekend; I live for SM’s Superromances.
@Patty: I got up at 4 am on Nov 6 to start reading Lord’s Fall and was not disappointed. I loved it but then again I abandon all objectivity when it comes to Dragos and Pia ;-)
Nov 12, 2012 @ 18:17:43
@Ros: I really enjoyed A Gentleman Undone! Historical romance isn’t my ‘go to” genre, but I thought this book was unique and the characters felt real.
Nov 12, 2012 @ 19:14:35
I know these aren’t romances, per se, but great books with romantic threads, but Martha Wells’ The Siren Depths and Lois Bujold’s Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance would be strong recommends from me.
Nov 13, 2012 @ 00:40:13
With all due appreciation to the goodness of Exposed to You – why couldn’t Berkley, after they picked it up, employ a copy-editor to get rid of may/might, duel/dual mistakes and the most awkward use of the verb “dunked” (instead of lowered) ever.
On the upside, no spelling mistakes. And the story really was not only scorchingly sexy but really well developed, especially the characters.
Nov 13, 2012 @ 05:55:45
@Laura Florand: How could I forget? I read Lois McMaster Bujold’s Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance several months ago as I bought the eARC when it came out. I have re-read it at least 3 times. It’s wonderful, and a must-read if you are a fan of the Vorkosigan books (but this is Ivan’s book, and he is a great hero; not really an idiot [much maligned])
Nov 13, 2012 @ 20:06:03
@msaggie: I absolutely agree! I just love this book. Ivan makes such a great hero, all while retaining his absolute Ivan-ness. And the kind of “through-Ivan’s-eyes” perspective on his family is great.
Nov 14, 2012 @ 10:18:00
I really enjoyed Carolyn Crane’s MR REAL (it came out Oct 30, so I think that counts as Nov). It’s kind of a mashup of urban fantasy, romance, and a touch of a spy story. Quirky, funny and interesting. I found the inventive world-building and mix of subgenres made it unpredictable in the best way. I wasn’t sure how the story would resolve or even, for a lot of the book, how I wanted it to.