Reading Journal

Darkness, Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane

February 2008— This was another one recommended by Louise when I visted with her at Watermark Books in Anacortes in 2003. It was a fast-paced, very dark and gritty detective novel. The mystery was compelling and I really enjoyed the main protaganists, Patrick Kenzie and Angela Genarro. I only wish that I had known that this was the second in the series! I so dislike starting in medias res.

Sleeping Beauty by Phillip Margolin

1/27/2008— Long ago (1993? 1994?), I read an advance copy of Margolin's first novel, Gone, But Not Forgotten. I really enjoyed that one. For whatever reason though, I never picked up another. I remember this one catching my attention while working at the library. I finally bought it just after we moved back here, Fall 2006. It felt a little awkward, the way it was structured. It was somewhat predictable. But it was a fast, easy, and relatively entertaining read, nonetheless.

Flight by Jan Burke

1/19/2008— I don't know why I waited so long to read this one, when I absolutely loved Bones, not the first Irene Kelly mystery, but the first "crossover" into thriller-land. I think it's because this one features Irene Kelly's husband as the protaganist, and I wasn't sure I'd be into it as much. Boy, was I ever wrong. What a great read! Superb mystery. Kept me guessing. Kept me on the edge of my seat. Loved the cast of characters. Loved the story of an old investigation coming to life again in the hands of Detective Frank Harriman who has a seriously uphill battle to find the truth.

Vahalla Rising by Clive Cussler

1/13/08— Mmmmm... Dirk Pitt. How I love you so, you macho-manly-man, you! Another fun adventure. Sabotaged cruise liner. Engines that use seawater for fuel. Hijacked NUMA ship. Tanker crashing into New York City! And, of course, a long lost Viking treasure trove. Tied together in a way only Clive Cussler can do. Fun stuff. I'm very sad there is no more Cussler on my shelves.

2/1/2008— Once again, I've been slacking off. It's interesting. I carefully pile my books on my computer, so that they're there when I'm ready to update. But somehow, I never manage to do that (though it would only take about 5 or 10 minutes). I even write the date I finish each one in the inside cover or on a sticky note attached to the book. I'm hereby making a New Year's resolution to keep up! This is in addition to my continuing goal to read what I have, rather than buy more books. So here's what I've been reading

Her Majesty's Wizard by Christopher Stasheff
July 2007-- After the Hambly book, I was ready for more fantasy. This one had been on my shelf since about 1997, I think. I bought it used in Bellingham when I completed grad school. It was one that I kept hearing people talk about as fun and humorous. It was just okay for me. It moved a little slow. I was not a fan of the wishy-washy (though kind-hearted) doofus of a hero. And really, I just wasn't that into it. Fortunately, it was a quick read. And that's about all I can say since I remember very little else about it at this point. (Sigh... that's what I get for waiting 8 months to update my journal).

Catspaw by Joan D. Vinge
August 31, 2007-- After reading her Hugo/Nebula winner, The Winter Queen a few years ago, I was very interested in reading more of Vinge's work. This one I found at a Friends of the Cedar Park Library book sale for a quarter. It was worth far more. I really enjoyed the tale of Cat, the half-human, half-Hydran telepath who gets in way over his head when he takes a job to track an assassin. It was part sci-fi, part mystery, and the pace was great. Cat was a flawed and fascinating hero. Vinge did an excellent job of painting his character using the first person voice. It made me feel like I was in the thick of it with him, trying to figure out what was going on.

Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong
September 5, 2007-- It's interesting sometimes how much time can go by. I swear it wasn't that long ago that I read Dime Store Magic by this author (not the first in the series, technically, but the first featuring this protaganist). But it was more than 3 years ago (since it's not in this log). Crazy. Anyway, this was a very fast read. Love the strong female protaganist. Love the supernatural elements in our world (of course). And the politics of magic (warlocks vs. witches vs. werewolves vs. vampires vs. any-magic-type-not-associated-with-the-aforementioned, like our heroine) that drives the plot is interesting as well. More interesting than the mystery aspect (i.e., the main plot), I would say.

Memory of Fire by Holly Lisle
September 7, 2007-- Fantasy-mode continues. I picked this one up one evening after book group on a whim. I'd heard of Holly Lisle, and figured I'd check her out. I enjoyed it, but mainly because it was such a quick read, rather than because I was really into it. I liked the small-town conspiracy aspect, and I liked the idea of the mirror-gates. But the actual other world and the magical laws associated with it were not so inspiring to me.

Charm City by Larua Lippman
September 20, 2007-- Ah! A change of pace. A mystery this time. This is the second in the Tess Monaghan series. It even won an Edgar. I bought the first two books together. I read the first awhile back, and remember thinking it was just okay. So the second sat on the shelf until now. And, actually, this one was better. A better pace. A better mystery. Love the images of Baltimore. I've never been, but there is such local color in this book, it's fun to read about. Best of all, Tess really steps it up this time and is a stronger personality in this adventure than she was in the first. I could read another.

Louder than Words by Jenny McCarthy
September 2007-- This book read like candy. Very short, very fast. Sweet, even (because, for Jenny and her son, there has been a happy ending). Jenny McCarthy is a strong storyteller. She caught my attention, and kept it throughout. I really enjoyed reading about her experiences, her struggles, and her successes. It also gave me a new perspective into autism—but mainly, it freaked me out. But I feel as if I have a lot more knowledge coming out of this book than I did going in. Is McCarthy an authority? Does she have the answers? A definitive NO. But her experiences have value as well. I'm glad I read it.

Against the Tide of Years by S.M. Stirling
December 2007-- I read the first in this series, Island in the Sea of Time back in 200 on the recommendation of my brother. I really loved the duck-out-of-water story of modern-day Nantucket, pulled from our time and transported to sometime in the B.C. 800s. I actually started this second book not too long after the first, and put it down because it just didn't capture my attention. This time--though I wanted to put it down-- I persevered. I just couldn't get into it. I just didn't care. I was so done with the same-old bad guys and same old conflicts. It had stopped being a survival story, and had become a (boring) war story. Took me 3 months to get throgh this one. Bleh.

The Dark Place by Aaron Elkins
December 29, 2007-- Something thin and fast was in order after the Stirling book. This was a freebie from back when I worked at Brentano's (1993 or so). My favorite part about this one was that it took place in the Olympic rainforest here in Washington. I wasn't very into the main character, anthropologist Gideon Oliver. He was kind of a prissy, academic know-it-all type. Meh.

Fellowship of Fear by Aaron Elkins
January 2, 2008-- For whatever reason, I thought this one took place after The Dark Place, but apparently, it is actually the first in the series. Gah! I hate it when that happens. Oliver was even more prissy and academic know-it-all-ish in this one. But I enjoyed the Cold War espionage plot-line. No more Elkins on the bookshelf—methinks I'm done with Gideon Oliver.

The Time of the Dark by Barbara Hambly

6/25/2007— On to something completely different. This time a free, promotional copy of the first in the Darwath Trilogy, in order to hype the "new" (at the time I got it, back in 1996) book in the same realm. A fantasy, of a type I generally enjoy, wherein our real world in some way collides or connects with some other realm of possibility. In this case, the realm of Darwath, a sort of parallel world. Darwath is rather medieval (carts and horses, nobles and peasants, castles and kings). But it has magic, and it has The Dark. It had a good pace, but somehow it all felt very superficial... like a scratch on the surface. It wasn't until the very end of the book that I felt, "Aha! We're finally getting somewhere!" And, of course, that was the end. I'm not sure I'm hooked enough to read more. Dunno. Maybe... unh, maybe not.

Vixen 03 by Clive Cussler

6/18/2007— Continuing backwards in time, I moved into this Dirk Pitt adventure (which takes place just before Cyclops). Who better to unearth sunken aircraft, solve decades-old mysteries, and save the United States from the devastation of a biological weapon? Gotta love him. How does the whole Africa angle fit in? You've got to read it to believe it. Cussler gets me every time... am I just blind and stupid? Then again, maybe he's just on crack when he thinks this stuff up. :P

Cyclops by Clive Cussler

6/14/2007— I wanted fast-paced adventure after the Peters book. Who better to turn to than that macho, manly man, Dirk Pitt? This is one series that I've really broken from the norm. I seem to be reading them in no order whatsoever. :P The very first Pitt adventure I read was Sahara, then I moved forward from there. This book actually takes place just before that one. Gotta love the Cold War... such excellent fodder for adventure! The Reds are plotting to take over Cuba, there's a disappearing blimp, a lunar conspiracy, and more. It never ceases to amaze me how Cussler manages to weave such disparate lines into one cohesive, pretty bow by the end of the book (and often, it takes until the very end to happen).

The Snake, the Crocodile and the Dog by Elizabeth Peters

6/10/2007— After my strip-cover extravaganza, I was kind of at a loss as to what to read next. But since I was kind of in, let's-read-stuff-that-has-been-sitting-for-awhile mode, I picked up this Amelia Peabody mystery. I started the series about the time I entered grad school (in 1996). I read the first, and then bought a whole bunch of the series (I think all that was available at the time) because I enjoyed it so much. But then I burnt out on it, and this book has been waiting ever since. One thing I enjoy about Peters is that when she makes references to past events, she actually cites the previous title by putting a little asterisk and listing it at the bottom of the page. This one felt like it had a lot of asterisks. And, being as I only vaguely recall the events of the previous titles, I felt a little lost at times. It also read rather slowly for me. Ms. Peabody is somewhat fond of pontificating on matters, to the detriment of plot at times. I seem to recall that this was part of the reason I burned out on these... the books kept getting longer and longer, yet the plots still felt like they should fit in a smaller book. Amelia Peabody is a great character (I still think that the writers of that movie "The Mummy" stole her!), but I think I'm done with her at this point.

5/31/2007— The strip-cover medley. Over the last month, I've been doing lots of reading! The majority of the books were strip-cover books, that is, books that I took home from B&N when I was working there. So most of them have been on the shelf for quite awhile. My reading spree actually began with a non-strip-cover book...

Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter
I picked this one up some time ago because I had an advance copy of a later book (and, being the anal person I am, I wanted to start at the beginning of the series). I was also in need of something with a faster pace than the Willis book I had just finished. What better than a psycho-killer book? And boy, I was not disappointed. Fast and furious, this book wasted no time with getting to the first grisly killing. I also liked the protaganist, though I admit I was rather annoyed with her seeming stupidity on a couple points. I mean, hello?, give the freakin' psycho letters to the police, babe! Other than that, I realy appreciated her smarts and her strength, and the sparks between her and her ex-husband sheriff. If I still had that advance copy, I'd definitely be reading it... as it is, I may just have to go out and buy the next one.

The Ritual Bath by Faye Kellerman
After the Slaughter book (really, it almost seems like it has to be a nom de plume!), I was in mystery-mode. So I picked up this one from my strip-cover pile. It is the first of the Rina Lazarus/Peter Decker series. What I enjoyed most about this one was not so much the mystery (which was just okay), but rather the glimpses into Jewish culture. It wasn't so much focused on the religious aspect, but rather on everyday life (which I guess doesn't make to much sense, since religion plays such a huge part of life in the yeshiva). The illustration of the yeshiva, a Jewish community, and its moires was fascinating. In addition the spark between Rina (female protagonist) and Peter (LAPD/male protagonist) providing some interest as well (how does a woman who lives her faith reconcile her attraction to a non-believer/outsider?). I can see why this is such a long-lived series.

The Edge by Catherine Coulter
Another strip-cover. Long ago, I read the first couple books inCoulter's FBI series. I've also listened to a few on audio. This is another one. It was fast, light, and (I'm almost ashamed to admit) actually held a couple of surprises for me plot-wise. A pleasant surprise, indeed, since it was more than I was expecting.

My Spy by Christina Skye
There was a time when I was buying Skye's books as they came out. But when she really shifted her focus to contemporary (from historical and supernatural/time-travel), she dropped off my radar. I picked this up mainly because it looked like it could be fun, and it was free (go-go strip-cover!). And it was fun. Cute. God love those amnesiac secret-agent-Navy-SEALS-types.

The Heir by Johanna Lindsey
Well, I was in romance-mode at this point. So I picked up another strip-cover from my shelf. And it came to me, it is because of triffle like this that I stopped reading Johanna Lindsey books. I really enjoyed some (there wasa Scotish series that was rather fun, following the various family members), but there came a point when they just went seriously downhill for me... and this one continues that downward spiral. It was fast, but really, it was just okay, leaning toward, "Haven't I read this before?"

Homeport by Nora Roberts
At this point, I was figuring I'd just finish off what strip-covers I had left on the shelf. Lo and behold! The last one on the shelf is by Nora Roberts! Yummo! And, as usual, I was not let down. Fast-paced, fun, smart characters, interesting backdrop (the worlds of art authentication and theivery), steamy sex, some murder for good measure. Nothing amazing—but definitely good, solid Roberts.

Passage by Connie Willis

4/27/2007— Many years ago, I read an amazing, wonderful book by Willis called Doomsday Book. I started this book at the beginning of January, had a baby, and have just now finished it. This was book was neither amazing nor wonderful, but it was an intriguing exploration of near death experience phenomena and life after death... and it was also long. The unfortunate thing was that it was not until I was more than two-thirds of the way through the book that I actually got into it. At that point, the story actually had a sort of urgency to it— the heroine on the brink of discovery, tragedy, and then almost a mystery. All in the last 300 pages. What about the first 500? Meh.

4/26/2007— Whoa. It's been awhile! I guess moving across the country (and then having a baby!) threw a dent into my whole updating-in-a-timely-manner thing. :P However, I did, in fact, do some reading in the last 8 months... (OMG... has it really been that long???)

The Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
August 2006-- I've read a coupleof novels by Chevalier, and have loved all of them. That said, I was actually a little disappointed in this one. I think I was hoping for more of the detail-orientedness that I found in The Virgin Blue or Falling Angels. I enjoyed it; it was quick; but it was lacking for me.

Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner
August 2006-- This is an author that people who know me kept telling me that I needed to read. They were right! This book was very enjoyable-- funny, poignent, great characters, fast-moving, compelling story. Being 4 months pregnant while reading it though was tough toward the end... it involved a lot of tears. I swear I was crying for the whole last quarter of the book. But I loved every minute of it.

The Ruins by Scott Smith
September 2006-- I read an article in Entertainment Weekly by Stephen King wherein he listed his favorite summer reads. This was one of them. All I can say is that I won't be looking to him for further reading suggestions. Other reviews were very positive as well, but for me-- I found it predictable and uninspired. I wish there were more of the man-eating plants really. But there were only so many characters available for them to take out. :P

Natural Selection by Dave Freedman
September 2006--I'll admit it... I bought it because there was a big ol' shark-like mouth on the cover. But, you know what, this book was a lot of fun. I got sucked in despite myself. Campy, fast-moving, and kind of intriguing. It's interesting to think about the possibility of us dropping a step on the evolutionary ladder, and to read a scenario (albeit not-quite-plausible) where it happens.

All by Nora Roberts

Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts
September 2006--Well... I had to read something while waiting for book two of the Circle Trilogy to come out. :P I enjoyed the characters, the mystery, and the investigation. The romance wasn't bad either. It also made me wish I had a hot carpenter next door who would make a bad-ass dining room table for me!

Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson
October 2006-- Our last bookgroup book was her first novel. I loved that one so much that I had to pick up this latest. This story, to me, had a lot more heart to it. Again, I loved the writing-- it just invoked the South to me. Again, it had some humor. But the story and the characters felt much more... ugh, having a hard time finding a word here... maybe "dimensional"? Fuller? There was much more in terms of range of emotions. And the plot was very compelling for me. It is one of those that starts at the end and then goes back to the beginning, so you have a sense of where you're going throughout and the the plot is about the journey. I can't wait for her next book.

Skin Tight by Carl Hiaasen
October 2006-- A couple of years ago, I listened to an audio version of Skinny Dip which I absolutely loved. Since then, I'd been wanting to try more by him. I picked this one because it features one of the same characters-- Mick Stranahan. Absolutely hilarious. Great mystery. I shall definitely be reading more of Mr. Hiaasen's books.

Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich
October 2006-- Sequel to Metro Girl. Again, I laughed out loud. Barney is definitely a different character than Stephanie Plum-- she's smarter, savvier, and more grounded. I think what really made this book for me was the relationship between Barney and Hooker-- the tension was fun. And the Miami cigar-factory ladies who appeared in the first one are back, and offer even more comic relief. I'm looking forward to the next in this series even more than the next Plum book, I think.

Tyrannosaur Canyon by Douglas Preston
November 2006-- I picked this one up because it looked fun and I enjoyed one of his earlier books, The Codex (see below). I was surprised to find that this was a sequel of sorts-- it featured the main brother who appeared in that one. Again, this was a fast, fun, furious story. Action-packed, with some fun paleontological tidbits thrown in. Nothing inspiring, but enjoyable.

Killing Floor by Lee Child
November 2006-- I picked up this book a few years ago (another instance where I read a review for a book later in the series, and being the picky reader I am, I decided I'd have to start at the beginning). This book was HOT! From the first page, it was incredibly compelling. The protaganist, Jack Reacher, was flawed, intriguing, and I just had to know more. The mystery was smart. Very smart, twisting, and unexpected. One word of warning (for the faint of heart)-- gory. A great read!

Hawke by Ted Bell
November 2006-- I think I actually bought this at the same time as the Child book (and for the same reason even). So not into this one though. It struck me as a macho manly-man plot (but not in the good Dirk Pitt kind of way). Carboard characters. Bleh.

Deep Waters by Jayne Ann Krentz
November 2006-- Typical Krentz. Romantic suspense, but lighter than Nora Roberts or Linda Howard. Two protaganists, neither looking for love, of course find it in the throws of sleuthing (and shopkeeping, and cults even). Ah, I do love my happy endings, and Krentz never disappoints in this respect.

Monkeewrench by P.J. Tracy
December 2006-- Computer game, grisly murders, programmers with shady backgrounds, and police procedural. Good stuffs. I also quite liked Grace, the main character focus. She was seriously tough, but had a fragile quality that was compelling, and worked well next to the cop-with-a-past. I needed to know why. This book was a lot of fun.

Sunshine by Robin McKinley
January 2007-- This is another PW article mention (it also talked about Karen Armstrong, Jennifer Fallon, and K.J. Bishop... I think it was a women-in-fantasy-kind-of-like-Laurel Hamilton article). This was not my first McKinnley title (though I still think my favorite is The Blue Sword). This one seemed to take place in a world similar to ours, but one in which vampires and faerie are a reality, magic is real (though not the norm), and in which the human population has been devastated by war. The world McKinnley built was quite well-drawn... it felt like an alternate reality. I think this really helped bring the story to life for me. The story was told from the perspective of the female protaganist, and the writing really made me feel as if I were in her head, following her thoughts. Admittedly, her thoughts were not always exciting (not the fastest-moving story to be sure)-- but overall, not bad. (

8/22/2006-- Oh-my-gosh—what a complete slacker I've been! It's not that I haven't been reading; rather, I have just failed to maintain my journal. Not that I've read very much so far this year (once again, WoW consumes my life). But, as we're about to move (and I need to pack these books), I've suddenly developed some motivation. So here's a quick run-down of what I've read since January:

The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory
It was okay. I picked it up because I so loved The Other Boleyn Girl by the same author. However, the heroine of this novel was not nearly was strong, nor her story as compelling. Again, Gregory drew a wonderful picture of the period, and of the historic figures (Edward VI, Mary, Elizabeth, Dudley)—but since the story wasn't about them, those tidbits just weren't enough.

A Kiss of Fate by Mary Jo Putney
I used to love Putney's books. They were among the first romances I read. However, I stopped reading them because they became kind of preachy and moralistic. This one caught my eye, however, because of the touch of magic in the story (I love that kind of thing—magic alive in our world, but unseen by the majority). I enjoyed the story, but I think it was just too serious for me. I prefer my trashy romance to have a little more humor, take itself less seriously, and have a lot more sex.

Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich
Woot! Such fun! And I love, love, love this spunky and sassy new character, Barney Barnaby! Another laugh-out-loud one for me. I can't wait for another in the series.

All by Stephanie Laurens

Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
Hmm... I was a little disappointed. Though Lula was her usual hilarious self, the main plotline seemed pretty serious for a Plum book. I was hoping for more cheez-tastic fun. And what's up with no cars getting destroyed??? It was explained to me that the cars were actually representative of Evanovich's own daughter's destructive car habits—but since there have been no car traumas in her daughter's life, there were none for Stephanie Plum either. Sigh... I miss destructo-car.

Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
This was a loaner-book. (Moving motivation strikes again! Now I can return it in good conscience.) After loving Angels & Demons and being unimpressed by The Da Vinci Code, I wasn't sure what to expect from this earlier novel. But I guess there is a reason why it remains on the paperback bestseller list. It was definitely fast-paced, action-packed fun. The protagonists were maybe a little too perfect, but I still got carried away in the story. Cryptography for dummies is fun! Read the whole book on the flight from Seattle to Houston last weekend (8/20/2006). And I was left bookless for the Houston to Austin leg. (I knew I should have picked up that book I saw at the airport!)

Phew! And now I'm caught up. Hopefully, I'll do a little better in the future (assuming I manage to actually read some, what with moving and raiding adventures). :P

In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming

1/1/2006—Whoa. It has been a slow reading year. Hopefully, I'll do better this year. I'm really starting to miss reading—especially after reading this book. Incredible! Very good mystery. There's a reason why it won six major awards for best first novel. Interesting characters (the type that you really feel like you are getting to know, and you want to know more about)—Clare, the new Episcopal priest in town, and Russ, the chief of police—fresh setting (at least for me), great mystery, compelling suspense. The beginning really gripped me, and then I couldn't stop. I read this in three days, and after finishing the long, drawn-out pain that was American Gods, it was like the scent of snow in the air—crisp, cool, and refreshing.

Homeland by R. A. Salvatore

11/15/2005—This is the first in the Dark Elf Trilogy in the Forgotten Realms universe of AD&D. A classic, some might say. After listening to an audio version of Robert Jordan's Eye of the World back in June, I was in the mood for a fantasy. I picked this up at Amazon.com after reading many reviews and seeing it on a number of those lists that people post there. Of course, it took me many months to get around to it. It also took me awhile to read it. I started it on 10/29. It was okay. One thing that I did find interesting was the question of nature vs. nurture. For the most part, dark elf society is just plain evil. But our hero, despite being born into this society, where being evil is considered the way, and being raised by one of the most powerful and evil families of the lot, somehow finds himself morally at odds with everyone else. His mother is evil, but his birth father has some moral tendencies (though, he keeps them to himself). So maybe Drizzt was genetically predisposed to goodness? Maybe the process of evolution weeded out the rest of those who had the goodness gene? I can't say as that I am in any rush to pick up the next one in the series, but this one was worth reading.

Enchanting Pleasures by Eloisa James

10/28/2005—My non-reading streak continues, with a brief break for Quilt Festival! This one I read in two evenings. Much fun! Much cheese! A young miss from India is sent to England to marry, but the one that she falls in love with is her future fiancés brother, who has had a head injury that causes him migraines whenever he gets it on. Silly. But it made me laugh.

The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman

8/28/2005— Penman is an author who I've wanted to read for quite some time. I recieved this one for Christmas last year from my in-laws, finally giving me the chance to do so. In particular, I wanted to read this one for its telling of the Wars of the Roses. I absolutely loved this book. And it wasn't even her telling of the civil war that got to me, rather I loved how she took one of the most villianized men in history and made him into a very human, sympathetic character, in many ways a hero. And after I finished, I immediately did some cursory research to find out if any of that characterization is based on fact because I so wanted it to be true. And though I came away somewhat disappointed in that respect (Richard III is just not a popular fellow), I look forward to one day learning more about his life, maybe by reading an actual biographical work. And I definitely will be reading more Penman!

Scandal's Bride and A Rogue's Proposal by Stephanie Laurens

7/19/2005— Well, it finally happened! The books have taken off. These are the third and fourth in the Cynster series by Laurens. It got off to a slow start for me, but these volumes have made the journey worthwhile. I particularly enjoyed Demon's story in book four. It included a fun mystery, a strong female protaganist, and a wool-headed, but hot, man. Much fun ensued. And it seems the Cynsters have an endless array of friends and family... the series is up to 11 books!

Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich

7/12/2005— As always, a rollickingly fun read :). What more is there to say about it? Though, I think the whole vehicular-destruction thing goes a little too far in this one (I mean, really, 3 in one book? Or was it 4?).

The Club Dumas by Arturo Pérez-Reverte

7/4/2005— After completing last month's book club book, Codex, I felt inspired to pick up another literary-oriented thriller, which I have had sitting on my shelf since 1994, I think. I'm glad that I did, because it was a much more gratifying and suspenseful read than Codex. The characters were fuller and far more interesting (Corso is a fascinating "hero"), the plot much more dense, and the denouement kept me on the edge of my seat. It is also very tempting to check out some Alexandre Dumas and/or Sherlock Holmes, since I've never read any of their works.

A Rake's Vow by Stephanie Laurens

6/20/2005— This is a sequel to Devil's Bride that I read not too long ago. Though I enjoyed it overall, it took me awhile to get into it... something about the heroine just didn't click with me and because of that, pieces of the story didn't really fit together for me. Ah, well. That hasn't stopped me from buying a couple more in the series. I just have this strong feeling that this author is going to grab me, and so I keep trying. Rather unlike me, really.

Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon

5/17/2005— When I went into my romance buying frenzy back in November, I picked this one up based upon reader recommendations at Amazon.com. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but ended up having a lot of fun reading it. It was a little on the sappy side (but in a good way), somewhat predictable (but then, most romances are, to a certain extent), but the story was fun. A woman who has experienced only badness with men humors her friend by saying a chant. But that chant brings a super-lover out of a cursed book. The only hitch is, she isn't interested (ok, so this isn't the only hitch, but it's the first one). I really enjoyed the easy style of the writing, lots of slang and lively dialogue. This is the first in the Dark Hunters series, and I may have to pick up another.

Midnight Pleasures by Eloisa James

5/15/2005— Well, I couldn't find the next Cynster to fulfill some immediate gratification, so I turned to this one. I read the first book of this series, Potent Pleasures some time ago... and to be honest, I remember nothing but that it was ok, and maybe I'd pick up another later (being as it was a first book and really seemed to have promise). I even went to the author's website to see if I could jog my memory (of course, it didn't). I'm so glad I went ahead and got this one as it was much more memorable and such a pleasure to read! The characters were so vivid and lively, and I really enjoyed seeing the relationship between Sophie (innocent ton tease) and Patrick (notorious rake) evolve. There was also a mini-espionage subplot that added a nice tweak of interest. I look forward to reading more by James. I seem to be on a Regency romance kick lately. Just can't get enough of it!

Devil's Bride by Stephanie Laurens

5/15/2005— This is an author who I picked up based upon praise by another author who I've recently been reading, Julia Quinn. She enjoyed the characters in Laurens's books so much that she got permission to include a couple of them in her own books (which I also thought was a fun idea). It turned out to be a fun book, with wonderful characters (though not as well-drawn as Quinn's), but there was a really trying mystery aspect to the book that made me say, "X did it! Now get on with it already!" But it is an earlier work by this author, and I liked the characters enough that I am already planning on picking up the next Cynster novel.

The Codex by Douglas Preston

5/11/2005— Right after I started this one, it seemed familiar. I think my dad listened to it on audio when it came out in hardback last year and told me about it. Three sons, an inheritance, and their crazy old man who decides to make them prove themselves by burying himself and his "treasure" in a tomb for them to seek out and claim. Action-packed, psycho bad-guy, lots of jungle adventure, and even a little romance. A quote on the cover compares it to Indiana Jones and the Amazing Race, and it's not too far off. Fun stuff.

We Thought You Would Be Prettier by Laurie Notaro

5/5/2005— This was a really fun book. I picked it up initially because I enjoyed her first book so much (The Idiot Girls' Action Adventure Club, during the reading of which I burst out laughing while on an airplane and felt like an idiot). This is her fourth book now, I think. Still funny, but there were also a couple vignettes that were a little more seriou— same humor, but she tackles more mature issues (like moving her grandmother from the house she's lived in all of Laurie's life, a favorite bar of her youth closing down and thus marking the end of an era that she discovers really ended long ago). It was a refreshing read for me.

The Last Kashmiri Rose by Beverly Cleverly

4/26/2005--So this is another one from that Publishers' Weekly article that mentioned P.J. Parrish (or at least, that article I imagined I read because I've tried to find it again and am completely flummoxed). Anyway, this one took place during the 1910s in India. Great characters, wonderful, vivid setting, mystery good, whodunnit a little predictable, but still a lot of fun to read. The best aspect of the book though was the setting in British controlled India. I also really enjoyed the main character, the displaced Scotland Yard inspector (but I wasn't very into the "romance" aspect of the story with the wife of the local Collector who initiates the investigation). This is the first in a series, and I may very well try the next.

Likely to Die by Linda Faristein

4/9/2005-- This is one I picked up at a library book sale. I think it caught my attention because there was a more recent book by the same author that really looked great (The Bone Vault), but was hardcover and was clearly a part of a series. So, seeing this one for 25¢, I figured, why not? Definitely worth the quarter, even if it turned out to be the second in the series. I really liked Alex Cooper, New York prosecuter extraordinaire, as well as her cohorts in investigation (Chapman and Mercer and all the rest). It was kind of scary, because the crime really felt like it could be real—in fact, in the acknowledgements, the author says the events in the book were taken from headlines (and she herself is a prosecutor). I look forward to reading more books by her.

Dark of the Moon by P.J. Parrish

4/3/2005-- I read about P.J. Parrish in a Publishers' Weekly article awhile back about mystery authors that booksellers love to read and recommend that aren't well known. The Louis Kincaid mysteries by Parrish were mentioned in that article. I immediately wrote the name in my little black book of books and every time I visited a bookstore, I'd search out Parrish titles. Finally found one at Half-Price back in November, and finally read it just now! It was a compelling story that centered around on detective's search to solve a newly discovered lynching crime that occurred two decades earlier. Great characters, good mystery.

3/13/2005-- It's been pretty slow reading-wise, since I've discovered the Worlds of Warcraft. All I've managed are book club books (and not even all of those!). But on Thursday I got run over by my cats, and got a scratched eyeball. The doctor told me to rest my eye... so (alas!) no WoW for me. So, I resorted to some crazy one-eyed reading. So, remember back in November, I said I wanted to read more Bridgerton books? Well, in the last 3 days, I've read all of the rest-- 5 in all. Two on Friday, two on Saturday, one today. All wonderful!!! Those Bridgertons are positively addictive, and I can't wait to get my next fix (coming out in June!). Fun, humor, and lots of romance! One of the neat things about the books is in how they all tie together. Julia Quinn has a wonderful way of weaving a story, and making each happily ever after special. I particularly enjoyed Anthony's story in The Viscount Who Loved Me and the Cinderella-esqe romance of Benedict and Sophie in An Offer From a Gentleman, but really, they were all a lot of fun!

The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson

1/2/2005-- It took me almost a month, but finally got through this one. Since I had so recently read a couple of books relating to the Wars of the Roses (Knight Errant, Eleanor of Aquitaine (well, that wasn't really Wars of the Roses, but it helped put me in the mood since it was a precursor to it all)), I figured I would give this one a try. I bought it about ten years ago, back when I worked at Brentano's, so it had been sitting on my shelf for quite some time. The afterword describes the work in a much friendlier way than I would, "The Black Arrow must be acepted for what it is-- a minor work by a major writer." Bad, I tell you, bad! The hero is none too bright, the dialogue sucks (as Stevenson, I can only guess, was attempting to make it "sound" more 15th century), and the plot was truly cheezy (and not in a good way).

Knight Errant by R. Garcia Y Robertson

12/5/2004-- Not only am I in a reading mode, I am also apparently on a time-travel spree. This book was one that my friend Louise recommended to me. I'm not sure what I was expecting-- I think just historical fiction (since that is what the spine said)-- but I got a romance. I guess they couldn't call it "romance" since it was written by a man. Overall, I liked the book, but it often would get bogged down with names and too much in the way of inconsequential details, and many of the characters really didn't seem as full as they could have been. On the plus side, our heroine was smart and plucky (no simpering females here!) and the bulk of the book took place during the Wars of the Roses which was interesting (though confusing at times). There is a sequel, Lady Robyn, where I'm sure many of the loose ends and thinner characters are fleshed out, but I'm thinking I'm not going to bother.

Eternity by Jude Deveraux

11/28/2004-- Since I had just finished one Jude Deveraux, I figured I'd try another that was sitting on my shelf. And, lo and behold-- it featured another Montgomery, but this one in 1865 in the wild West. I didn't enjoy it as much as Knight-- the characters in this one didn't have nearly the depth and the story was not nearly as solid. But it was fun and fast. Curious about other Montgomery books, I checked online and found a Montgomery Family Tree. My good heavens, it is extensive! I might have to pick up a couple of more sometime.

A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux

11/28/2004-- Another one of those books often found on best-Romances-of-all-time lists, and this one also involves time travel. And again, I can understand why it is so praised. I really disliked the heroine to start, but in the author's note at the beginning, she explains she wanted to write a book about a woman with little self-respect, who "mistook hate for love" and who then manages to turn herself around and discover her own self-worth and and to recognize "that unselfishness is the foundation for true love." So I stuck with it, and was seriously sucked in! The details on Elizabethan England were a lot of fun, the time travel worked for me, and the ending really got me. Well done.

Son of the Morning by Linda Howard

11/27/2004-- A unique time-travel romance, with a goodly amount of suspense as well (which, I admit, surprised me). It was on the darker side, pretty serious (which usually I'm not all that into), but the story was very compelling and all its elements-- archaeology, murder, an archaic puzzle, the Knights Templar-- made quite a combo. The heroine was a great character who constantly rose to the challenge despite all of the odds. Even the time-travel worked for me. I can see why this title is always on the lists of top romances of all time.

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

11/26/2004-- What fun! This is the 4th in a series featuring the Bridgerton family in Regency England. Wonderful characters, delectable romance, and a story that kept me stuck in my seat (I read it in one sitting). This is the best romance I've picked up in some time-- I'm definitely going to have to read some more Bridgerton books!

The Legend of Banzai Maguire by Susan Grant

11/26/2004-- I seem to be reading-girl right now. This one was a kind of cool, unusual romance. Our heroine is a pilot in the year 2006. She is shot down in enemy territory and is cryogenically frozen and awakes in the year 2176 to find that she has become legend and is being called to re-awaken democracy in an autocratic world. I liked her a lot-- smart, sassy and bad-ass. And the military-sci-fi aspect of it makes it pretty unusual for a romance (though, it does have the requisite Navy SEAL for a hero, albeit in 2176). This book is the first of a series of five, but each book is written by a different author. I'm still deciding if I want to try more...

The Lady in Question by Victoria Alexander

11/26/2004-- This one was a light, Regency romance. Definitely fluffy, but it made me smile, and it had the requisite happy ending. It was good enough, the characters intriguing enough, that I would like to read the sequel at some point.

Atalantis Found by Clive Cussler

11/25/2004-- As usual, Dirk Pitt, macho manly-man extraordinaire, doesn't disappoint. Action-packed fun. I've also finally finished listening to the last of the Left Behind series (yes, I've done all twelve)-- and boy, by the end, way too much preaching. I really did enjoy the first five in the series (far more action than preaching), but when the new reader appeared in book eight (Frank Muller is a great reader, but it was strange switching after seven books) it was all definitely downhill from there. Even the switch back to reader Richard Ferrone in book ten didn't help. But by that point, I was hooked, I'll admit it. I had to go to the end.

Northern Lights by Nora Roberts

11/03/2004-- Well... still reading Jonathan Strange-- it's just so dang big. I needed a break, some relatively instant gratification. Nora Roberts to the rescue! Her latest book really hit the mark. I started it while waiting in line at the polls last Friday, and finished this afternoon. A nice mix of romance and mystery, interesting characters, and a great setting (small town in Alaska named Lunacy). I'm definitely in the mood for more "fun" reads!

America: The Book by Jon Stewart (and other denizens of the Daily Show)

10/25/2004-- Well... still reading Jonathan Strange-- I've been so focused on quilting lately that I haven't taken much time to read (though I did just finish listening to the latest John Sandford on audio, Naked Prey... the reader for those books, Richard Ferrone, is awesome!). However, since I don't want to sound like a complete slacker, I thought I'd let you in on my current guilty pleasure, America: The Book. Hilarious, fun, and excellent bathroom reading.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Morrell by Susanna Clarke

10/8/2004-- With wonderful 19th century style, Clarke paints a vivid portrait of an England that still has a bit of magic. It's long, and I'm savoring it.

The Bourne Supremacy by Robert Ludlum

9/20/2004-- I read it because after Masquerade I was in the espionage mode, and because I also really enjoyed the first Bourne title (and the movie). Somehow, this one just never grabbed me (the movie, though completely unrelated, was much more fun). The other weird thing was how similar in style it was to the Lynds title... I guess Ludlum rubbed off on her (she co-authored a couple of books with him).

Masquerade by Gayle Lynds

9/1/2004-- I read a review of her newest title, The Coil, was intrigued, and then discovered it was a sequel to this one, so I snatched it up. Very strong female protaganist, and action-packed. Espionage fun!

Golden Leopard by Lynn Kerstan

8/30/2004-- I bought this one a couple of years ago based upon the pretty cover (ugh, don't say it) and the fact that I love sparkly things (e.g., gold, emeralds... you get the idea). Part of the story concerned Indian culture/history-- and, having just recently finished Twentieth Wife in my book group, it also gained another point of interest. But it was just an average romance.