Jul 11, 2018

Reading binge

For the first time this year I've indulged in a mini reading binge, and it's been rather divine (all right, a lot!). Better yet, I've discovered some new to me authors. And as we're all readers here I thought I'd share them with you.




 Virginia Kantra’s Carolina Dreaming. Our own Rachel Bailey recommended this to me and it was an unexpectedly emotional read with great characters who could’ve followed predictable trope-y, plot-y paths, but didn’t. This was a book that had all the feels. And I can’t wait to explore Kantra’s Dare Island novels further.







 Roxanne Snopek’s Forever Yours, Sweetheart. This was just a lot of flirty fun, with an ending that will have you cheering. I hate slut-shaming, so I found this book particularly satisfying. Also, there are dogs…and I love the dogs.







JoAnn Ross’s Herons Landing. I don’t know why, but I thought Ms Ross might be a bit…mumsy, but there was nothing mumsy about this one. It didn’t start off quickly, and there was quite a bit of background to experience in relation to the two leads, but I didn’t mind in the least because Ross writes with authority…and Honeymoon Harbor (the setting for her series) was just such a fab place to spend time in. So, I wallowed. :-)


Sherry Thomas’s My Beautiful Enemy. This was a book that blew me away. It’s a romance that pushes the boundaries of the genre, and succeeds gloriously. The heroine is half-Chinese half-British and the novel is written with a definite Chinese sensibility, and I adored it. I adored everything about it—the heroine is ‘cheer out loud’ empowered, the hero is deliciously unflappable, and the pace is gripping. I can’t wait to read my next Thomas novel (which will be Not Quite a Husband as soon as I find the time).

 And I’ve just rounded my little binge off with a tried and true author, Kelly Hunter, with her wonderful Outback Brides: Maggie’s Run. It’s intense and powerful and I couldn’t put it down.

I can heartily recommend each and every one of these titles. So what about you, what can you recommend at the moment, and have you discovered a new-to-you author this year?

9 comments:

  1. More books to add to my ever growing TBR pile :)

    That Sherry Thomas one sounds amazing and I checked it out it is part of a series I want to read them all :)

    I have read all of The Outback Brides series and WOW they are fabulous stories and I am sure there are going to be more in this series and I very much look forward to them.

    I have read a few fabulous books lately I have just finished the 3rd and final book in The Belle Hamilton series by Michell Montebello I highly recommend these.

    The Peacock Summer by Hannah Richell was just fabulous set in England in the early 50's and then in the 80's grandmother and granddaughter it is so good.

    The Desert Nurse Pamela Hart wow this one is set during WW1 and the Gallipoli campaign times were hard but there is always love through hardship.

    Oh and of course Kandy Shepherd's Best Man and the Runaway Bride is just so beautiful and a must read.

    Have Fun

    Helen

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    1. You have such a great list here, Helen! Thanks for the recommendations -- I'll have to check them out. I just saw that Pamela Hart cover on FB and it's beautiful. And I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the Outback Bride series. :-)

      Sherry Thomas's My Beautiful Enemy has a linked novel called 'The Hidden Blade' that's a prequel--so all the things that happened in the heroine and hero's lives when they were children (and, yes, I have it on my Kindle). ;-)

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  2. Hi Michelle!
    The GR challenge has been so good for my reading stats! And I love how easy it is to keep track of what I've read.
    I've been glomming all the RITA books in my category and they're all so good but I particularly loved Liz Fielding's, The Sheik's Convenient Princess. Its been such a long time since I read an LF and I'd forgotten how utterly delightful her books are.
    I was also give Jane Harper's The Dry while in France and I really enjoyed it too - I wished the ending had been more definitive but that was my only nit pick.

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    1. I'm going to do the GR challenge again next year (once the thesis has been kicked to the kerb ;-) ). Because it's been great for my reading stats in the past.

      Lord, I LOVED that Liz Fielding book. It's an utter delight. But, then, so is yours. :-) I've heard lots of good things about The Dry. I must find the time to read it.

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    2. I loved Liz's book as well :)

      Have Fun

      Helen

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  3. Sigh. More books to add to the pile. But I do like it when someone recommends a good read. I need to go on one of those reading binges, Michelle. Maybe while I'm in Rarotonga in two weeks time.

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    1. That's a happy sigh, right? ;-) And you should definitely have a reading binge in Rarotonga. Or even sooner than that! :-)

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  4. Looks like you have read some great books. I think I need a reading binge to get through my current bedside stack. Aaah if only there was more time.

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    1. I know exactly what you mean, Veronica! I built a nice little bit of momentum up...but have slowed again now due to deadlines. But it was nice while it lasted. :-)

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