Friday, May 22, 2009

Friday Book Club

It's Friday Book Club time - all about sharing your book recommendations!

I did a reread of one my favorite Jayne Ann Krentz books this week. Sweet Fortune is an absolutely wonderful story. I couldn't put it down once I picked it up, even though I've read it so many times before.

I love the heroine, Jessie, but it's the hero, Hatch, who really makes this book for me. I love the way he thinks, the way his mind works. Here're a couple of favorite lines:
"If you are angry or hurt or feeling neglected, I think you'll complain directly to management, not go behind my back and cry on some other man's shoulder."

"Complain to management." Her lip quivered. "Oh, Hatch. What am I going to do with you?"
Those lines alone make me want to go raid my JAK collection for more re-reads!

Okay, your turn. What've you read lately that you'd like to recommend?

37 comments :

ShellBell said...

A favourite series that I discovered early last year is Naomi Novik's Temeraire series. There have only been 5 books released so far and I am waiting impatiently for details of the next release:

1. Temeraire (aka His Majesty's Dragon)
2. Throne of Jade
3. Black Power War
4. Empire of Ivory
5. Victory of Eagles

The series is set in an alternate history during the Napoleonic Wars with talking dragons being used in aerial combat.

Currently reading (and enjoying) Deanna Raybourn. I'm on the second book 'Silent in the Sanctuary'

orannia said...

Oh, ShellBell you're reading Silent in the Sanctuary! I loved that book!

I *hangs head* have to admit that I am STILL reading the same book I was last week - Lover Avenged. I have made progress though. Hopefully I'll be finished on the weekend and then I can read CS Harris' When Gods Die!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Anonymous said...

Hi, Nalini!

I've read during this week following books:

- Lara Adrian "Ashes of Midnight"

- JR Ward "Lover Avenged"

- Lora Leigh "Megan's Mark"
"Harmony's Way"
"Tanner's Scheme"

and a re-read from your
"Hostage to Pleasure.

My book for the next week will be:

- Lora Leigh "Wolfe's Hope"
"Jacob's Faith"

- Tanya Huff "Smoke & Shadows"

- Ovid "Metamorphosen"

- and also a re-read from your
"Angels' Blood"

Athena said...

Found a new mystery series. Shirley Damsgaard, starting with Witch Way to Murder. Loved it. (About a witch who solves a murder) Also, Wendy Robert's Remains of the Dead about a crime scene clean up lady who can see ghosts. Awesome. Lili St. Crow's Strange Angels. A kick Ass hunter in high school who within the first quarter of the book had to kill her father b/c he became a zombie. Utterly Amazing! The authors first YA novel. If you like that novel you'd love the Dante Valentine series and the Jill Kismet series. Re-reading Storm born by Richelle Mead. Love that book and am waiting impatiently for the sequal. I've also been re-reading the excerpt for Mercy's book every chance I get! Also, Molly Harper's Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs. Premier of a new series. Sort of a mix between Sookie Stackhouse and Queen Betsy. And last but not least Some Girls Bite: A Chicagoland Vampire novel by Chloe Neill. After being attacked by a vampire on campus Merit is turned by a sexy master vamp (Ethan) who in turns goes from being a possessive jerkweed (which is kinda amusing) to being an ginormous meanie! LOL seriously Merit's an awesome character and I can't wait for the next installment.

Jory Strong said...

I stayed up until 2am for three consecutive days this week reading CL Wilson's Tairen Soul series.

Lord of the Fading Lands
Lady of Light and Shadow
King of Sword and Sky

Fantastic series. Totally fabulous. I'm just glad I didn't "discover" this author until after the first three books were already published. Otherwise the wait for the next one would have been miserable.

Cybercliper said...

Wow, everybody is reading some awesome books and I've gotten some great recommendations from the Friday Book Club. This week I read:

Burning Alive/Shannon Butcher-Loved it
Sea Lord/Virginia Kantra-Liked it
Insatiable Desire/Rita Herron-Loved it
Burning Wild/Christine Feehan-Loved it
Forbidden Magic/Cheyenne McCray-Liked it

Pissenlit said...

I have just totally enjoyed
- Emily Gee's Thief With No Shadow
- Rick Riordan's The Battle of the Labyrinth
- Deanna Raybourn's Silent In the Grave.

Oh and I've reread for the bazillionth time
- Marion Zimmer Bradley's Exile's Song.

smexybooks said...

I'm reading My Wicked Enemy by Carolyn Jewel which has been quite entertaining:) I also discovered Jennifer Lyon with Blood Magic. If you like alpha males..that is a good one:)

Tammy said...

I'm doing a re-read of Kay Hooper's series - with Bishop and the SCU while waiting for LKH's new one on June 2 - Skin Trade, Rachel Vincent's Stray (I know it's the first one, but it's the one I coudln't find locally so had to order it and ther 4th is coming in July), and a new series at least to me by Rhianon Byrd (and I totally forget the title but it's the frist one).

Dietingfashions said...

I am currently rereading Lisa Kleypas' contemporary novels:
Sugar Daddy
Blue Eyed Devil
Smooth Talking Stranger

I love the series.

Una said...

I read two anthologies that were good, Over the Moon and Unleashed. I also read Fall of Light by Nina Kiriki Hoffman. I really enjoy her books, the imagery of her fantasy worlds and how she melds magic into her urban fantasy is fascinating. Currently I'm finishing up a book called Already Dead by Charlie Huston - really interesting so far. A vampire detective type novel.

Anonymous - how did you get an early copy of Ashes of Midnight?!?

Mariana said...

I just re-read Jet Mykle's Heaven Sent series. It's an M/M Romance series and I love those characters, although I think they are pretty short/quick reads.

Lorelei James "Strong Silent Type" was great (another quick read).

I just finished Karen Chance's Cassandra Palmer series, which was pretty good.

And since I got my mom the Spanish versions for Nora Roberts 'Born in' series, I had to re-read those as well.

I'm starting "Burning Wild" by Christine Feehan and "Butterfly Tattoo" by Deidre Knight

Hilcia said...

Not too much time to read this week, but I did manage to finish two short M/M's by Angela Benedetti -- Candy Courage and In the Driver's Seat and one full length Crossroads by Keta Diablo.

On the paranormal front I started Bad to the Bone by Jeri Smith-Ready. I've been looking forward to this one. :)

Hope next week is better.

Mariana, love the "Born" series by Nora -- a favorite re-read for me. :)

Anonymous said...

I just finished reading The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley. OMG! One of the best books I've read in awhile!

I'm currently reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman.

Jackie M (Literary Escapism) said...

I just finished reading Rachel Vincent's Werecat series - Stray, Rogue and Pride - and all of them are fabulous!

ShellBell said...

I just finished reading Rachel Vincent's Werecat series - Stray, Rogue and Pride - and all of them are fabulous!I love this series too. Can't wait for the release of Prey.

T said...

LOL, Sassy!
I love Lisa Kleypas, historicals included (wallflower series). This week, I didn't have any new books to read - but I did reread a few:
Magic Burns
Magic Bites
Magic Strikes (just curious, but did you see the promised prologue from book 4 in Ilona's blog about 'the dinner.')

Next week, Eloisa James' 5th book in the Desperate Duchesses series (This Duchess of Mine) is released. Can't wait till the 26th of May!

Tina

Unknown said...

Okay, totally, off topic, but I have to tell you this cause it's AMAZING news. JULIE JAMES is reading Slave to Sensation!! You should look her up, read Just the Sexist Man Alive and have her as your Friday book club author. I'm really excited that she's reading Slave to Sensation!!! By the way, you are an amazing author. Leopards are my favorite animals. :) So finding your series has been like a Godsend and I have been telling anyone who will listen to read your books. :) Have a night night!
~Alicia

P.S. ShellBell, Rachel Vincent and her Shifter series is absolutely amazing! I've reread Stray about 15times since it was first released. I searched all over my city to get my hands on a copy of Pride. Nalini, that should be another Friday Book Club. *nod*

Unknown said...

Another thing, if you all haven't already, totally check out Sherrilyn Kenyon. I have a feeling all of you will love her, based on what you all are currently reading.

Pissenlit said...

Ooh, and I just finished Deanna Raybourn's Silent in the Sanctuary and loved it too!

Bridget Locke said...

Just finished reading The Black Jewel Trilogy by Anne Bishop and all I can say is "Why did it take me so long?" *sigh* Awesome!

Bridget Locke said...

Mariana-Butterfly Tattoo will rip out your heart a billion times over, but in the best possible way. I cried throughout 99% of the book and it took me a good hour to stop crying afterwards, but that book is definitely going on my Top 10 books list of 2009. :D

Unknown said...

I really enjoyed reading "Ashes of Midnight" by Lara Adrian. Alexander Reichen got a really good story. One of my favorites in this series. He is just cool.
I don´t know why, but here in Germany we got the books last week and did not have to wait till the 26th.

Anonymous said...

At the moment I´m reading your "Desert Warrior" Nalini. - It`s a beautiful fairy tale and remind me of the tales of 1001 night. This book`ll get an place of honour during my favorite books of E. M. Hull and Juliette Benzoni.
(It`s a shame that this book will not be reprinted.)

~Eva

Nalini Singh said...

Alicia - I've got Julie's books on my tbr :)

Bridget - what took you so long??!! Make sure you read Dreams Made Flesh, too. Great, great anthology.

Eva - thank you for that. DW has a special place in my heart. I hope one day it'll be reprinted :-)

Nalini Singh said...

Also, I have to say - ever since we started the book club, my tbr pile has taken on a life of its own!

Unknown said...

After your recommendations i just bought desert warrior. will take till 12 days to ship it in, though. Can´t wait to read it. I can tell you about it in the friday book club in two weeks:-)

Cybercliper said...

I loved the Black Jewels Trilogy, C.L. Wilson's Tairen Souls books, and Elizabeth Vaughan's Chronicles of the Warland series, Warprize, Warlord and Warsworn. Does anyone have any recommendations for romance/fantasy books like these?

Mariana said...

Bridget, I've heard that about Butterfly Tattoo... I got it the day it came out but have been holding off until a nice long weekend just in case I need some recovery time. I'm a big old crier ;)

It took me a week to recover from 'My Sister's Keeper' by Jodi Picoult.

Anonymous said...

CyberCliper, Have you read any Robin Owens books? She does a great job of creating other worlds with romantic stories.

I just finished Jennifer Rardin's first book and I enjoyed it. Orbit was giving e version for only $1.00.

Regards, Ruth

Nalini Singh said...

Julia - hope you enjoy. I've always loved Tariq & his Jasmine :)

Cybercliper - this is not a romance series, but very much a fantasy series. However, most romance fans who've read it really enjoy it. It's one of my favorites - Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar. The first trilogy is the Magic trilogy, the second is the Arrows, the third the Winds.

Each trilogy stands on its own, but it's all set in the same world. A really wonderful series.

Bridget Locke said...

Cybercliper-I would recommend The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey. They are true fantasy, but have romantic undertones.

Also Elizabeth Haydon (Rhapsody is first book) and Sara Douglass. Also fantasy w/ romance.

As for books like the ones you've read...hmm...good question. You've read all the good ones. :)

And I 2nd Nalini on Mercedes Lackey. LOVE those books!

Bridget Locke said...

Nalini-I don't know why it took me so long. I find it strange that they've been out as long as they have, but I've only heard of them in the last year or so.

I'm glad I read them. Excellent, but very...different. :)

orannia said...

Bridget - I'm so glad you enjoyed the Black Jewel trilogy! And I third Nalini & Bridget's recommendation of The Last Herald Mage series. I so must re-read it!

And I too loved Elizabeth Haydon's series. Since we're on fantasy, has anyone read Sarah Monette and/or Janny Wurts?

Anonymous said...

I just finished re-reading your Angels Blood... I'm so chomping at the bit to get you next books in my hand for both the Guild and the psy/changeling series.
I am currently re-reading Blood Noir getting ready for Laurell K Hamilton's next book - Skin Trade.
I have Lara Adrian's Ashes of Midnight in my tbr pile.

For the person who was looking for recommendations after reading Ann Bishops series.
I would look at our beloved Nalini Singhs books.
Laurell K Hamilton
Kelley Armstrong
Charlaine Harris - Southern Vampire
Kim Harrison
Patricia Briggs
Michelle Sagara - Cast Series
Mercedes Lackey - the Valdemar series (my fav being the last herald mage trilogy)

While there are now a lot of authors writing for the urban fantasy/romance the above writers to me are the best. Usually with in the first paragraph I'm sucked into their world and I don't come up for air until the last sentence. And then I'm craving the next book right then and there. I get emotionally connected to the characters and will re-read them just to visit the characters for a little while.

Mary said...

I book that has really surprised me is The proposition, of J. Ivory:

" No man, gentleman or otherwise, has ever looked at Lady Edwina Bollash the way the brash, handsome man standing before her is doing now. Edwina has accepted the challenge to transform incorrigible Mich Tremore into a gentelman in just six weeks. And although the linguist is sure she can rise to the task, she isn't at all certain she won't swoon under his frankly sensuous gaze before her job is done.

Mick has lived outside of London society long enough to know that appearances can be deceiving. Edwina might look all buttoned up-the perfect English lady-but there is unleashed passion existing just below her placid facade (not to mention a great pair of legs!). And as she prepares him to take his place in society, Mick prepares Edwina to take her place in his heart...and in his bed."

The hero is poor and his job is to rescue catch rats, than to win a gamble two gentleman (they are not gentleman but the reader don't know it at the beginnin)give him the possibility to take langiage lessons from a lady......Ok, the story is clearly taken from Pigmalione but, is also very different, and lively, and I think this is a very good book

Cybercliper said...

Thanks for all the recommendations everyone! I wrote everything down and will begin the hunt. Thanks again..