One thing all of us here have in common — besides being smart, funny, snarky, and talented — is that we like to read. What’s life without books? (Death, I’m pretty sure, but don’t quote me.)

Any-hoo, (oops, now I’m quoting D), this is the page where we’re going to talk about what we’re reading. Maybe you’ll find a book to add to your own TBR pile, or maybe you’re reading one that we’ll love. Let’s find out.

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July 27, 2009

Sandee’s Reading: Dean Koontz’ Odd Thomas series.  The latest one is Odd Hours (http://www.amazon.com/Odd-Hours-Dean-Koontz/dp/0553591703/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1248733554&sr=8-1).  I read a lot.  Many times, I’ve finished a book and pressed it into my DH’s hands telling him he HAS to read this book.  The Odd Thomas books were pressed into my hands by my darling.  He picked up the first book, Odd Thomas, while trapped in an airport on a marathon flight.  He came home raving about how entertaining it was.  So I picked up Forever Odd and Brother Odd for him.  He consumed them so quickly, it got me thinking.  Then I picked up Odd Thomas and was caught up in the story.  Odd Thomas sees dead people.  We start with Odd when he’s a young teen and just coming to realize that things are a little different for him.

By the third book, I was charmed with Odd’s aplomb as he is haunted by Elvis’ ghost.  Each story is a good mystery with just enough ‘coming of age’ angst to make Odd’s journey interesting.  The characters he comes across along the way, living and dead, are all fascinating.  I have no difficulty imagining that Odd is out there somewhere, living his strange life.  It’s good when a paranormal allows you to suspend your disbelief and get into the world as the author sees it.     spw

March 21st – Annie’s Reading:

I just finished Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer, the fourth book in the Twilight Saga. I loved the first half; it had all the same romance and character intimacy of the other three books. The second half was focused on “bigger” issues: family, survival, tooth-grinding suspense, the future. It wrapped up the saga very well, answering the numerous questions left hanging until then. And yet, especially as a writer, I could see great possibilities for more Twilight-related books somewhere beyond the horizon.

March 10th — Annie’s Reading:
I just finished Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer. It’s the third book in the Twilight saga. It was very good, better even than book two, I think. I could not put it down! Now I’m dying to read the fourth.

Feb 11th — Annie’s reading:
I just finished New Moon by Stephanie Meyer, the second in her Twilight series. I think I realized what keeps me coming back to these books: It’s the depth of POV and how this author can draw me into the characters’ emotions so I feel everything right along with them.

January 26th — Annie’s reading:
Right now, I’m reading FREEFALL by JoAnn Ross, and even though I just started it last night (stayed up all night–it was that unputdownable), I’m really enjoying it. Her chapter end hooks are great! Pace is breakneck. And I truly cared about her characters from their first mention. I’ll be reading more of her work.

Before that, I reread Sherrilyn Kenyon’s ACHERON–for the third time, I think it is now . . . or is it the fourth? Still love it.

And earlier this month, I read  TWILIGHT by Stephanie Meyer. I wasn’t expecting to love it, since it was in first person (which I generally don’t like) and it was a YA (which I’ve never read before.) But the characters were TOO compelling, the story pulled me in so deep, and the pace was so perfect, I couldn’t help but keep reading. Theme, setting, mood, and level of suspense were wonderful. I’ll be reading more of her work.

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January 22 with Marilyn Pappano
I’ve gotten a couple books in — unusual for me when I’m writing. I read BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE by Lee Child — my first Jack Reacher book, and not really my cup of tea. I also read for the first time TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee and loved it! As I read the last page, I wanted to turn back to the beginning and start all over. What I really wanted was to pick book 2 and spend more time with Scout and Jem, but since there is no book 2, I’ll just read TKAM over and over.

Now I’m about halfway through A CHARMED DEATH by Madelyn Alt (I think). It’s about witches in a small Indiana town, and I’m enjoying it.

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Dec 25th–Susan Shay is reading Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn, and just finished All Through the Night by Suz Brockmann. Check out WHAT I THOUGHT.

(Dec 15th) Annie is reading: Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Devil May Cry

Yes, I seem to be reading the Dark Hunter series in reverse order.  Okay, this one’s not quite as enthralling as Acheron, but it’s still a good read. I like the casino/Vegas setting as a backdrop for a story about ancient gods and demons.  Gives a whole new meaning to Sin city.

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(Dec 9th) Jackie

I fell in love with Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunter series with the first book.  For some reason, I read only the first three, but continued buying them.  The only one I haven’t gotten yet is ARCHERON and that’s ’cause it’s still in hardcover.  My book budget doesn’t allow for HCs, not even for J.D.Robb’s!  Because of Ashley raving about the series, I started catching up and remembering how much I love this series.  Right now, I’m on DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, but I haven’t read the novellas in between yet.  Must do that since the last book  had characters who get together in a past anthology.  Don’t want to miss their story!

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(December 9th) Susan here! I’m into Suz Brockmann this week. Check out READING WILD on my blog.

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(Dec. 9th) – DP’s update:

I’m tickled to death to have time to read.  Seems to go in big swings for me – time to read or time to write or time to do jewelery… pick one, but only one.  Aaaaccck!

So I finished Maximum Ride.  The story was good, however there is no closure.  Just a great big “to be continued.”  Pissed me right off.  I crave the HEA.  I need it like I need air.  I was denied. While I really want to know what happens with Max and the kids, I’m not sure I can pick up another one just to be teased again.

In retaliation, I went back to a favorite author that never fails me:  Sherrilyn Kenyon.  Read one of her latest releases, “One Silent Night.”  Stryker got his own story.  I will say that I didn’t expect to buy into the story.  Stryker has been the bad guy in almost every one of the Dark Hunter books.  But Sherrilyn, being the genius that she is, made me like him. Explained how he could be such a [insert favorite insult here] and now play the role of hero.  Brilliant!!  Is he really going to have to go back to being the bad guy again now though????!

Now I’m reading Ms. Peggy Fielding’s “Confessing For Money.”  She gave me a copy a few months ago, but I haven’t stopped to read it till now (so many books, so little time!!!).  And since Ms. Peggy is the darling that she is and offered to help me get a jump start on making a living at writing I thought I’d make sure I came armed with a little bit of info so I don’t look like a complete lunk-head.

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Marilyn’s just starting (12/08):

Laura Lee Guhrke’s Secret Desires of a Gentleman. I’ve been a fan of Laura’s books for ages, and her girl bachelor series has been fun. It’s a time in history that we don’t see a whole lot of — the late 1890s — and it adds an interesting dimension to the historical aspects of the book. I love historicals, especially Regency-period (but not so much of straight Regencies) and the American west, but it’s kind of cool to read this British-set series with heroines who are career women rather than too-often dependent-on-men historical heroines.

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(Dec 6th) Annie says:

I just finished Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon. LOVED IT! LOVED IT! LOVED IT! This is the first of her works I’ve ever read, but it won’t be the last. Thanks for the heads-up, Ashley. Great story, great characters, sexiest and most sympathetic hero I’ve come across in years! Did I mention I loved it?

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(Dec 2nd) Annie is reading:

After struggling through Persuasion last week, I decided to take an about-face — an admitted understatement. This week, I’m reading INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL!  I wasn’t expecting great literature, but since I hadn’t seem the movie, thought it would be interesting to ”SEE” one of the Indiana Jones stories through the eyes of a writer.

It’s nearly the thrill ride the (previous three) movies are. James Rollins is, in my opinion, an expert in the use of active writing and painting pictures with words. Yes, it helps that I’ve seen the other three, so I’m familiar with the character and tone, but this writer does do a great job of bringing this story to LIFE — Bigtime! It’s very fast-paced, as you might expect, but there are lots of internal thoughts, too, which a movie-goer wouldn’t be privy to. So far this has been a very FUN book, and a nice break from the beloved, revered, but difficult Austen.

If I ever get around to seeing this movie, I may be disappointed that the PICTURES aren’t as good as the ones in my head.

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(Nov 30th) Annie is reading:

Persuasion by Jane Austen. It’s my favorite of Austen’s stories which, to this point, I’ve only experienced through PBS and videos. After watching the newest version of Persuasion on PBS, and being left with many unanswered questions about the H & H’s motivations, I decided to find out how the book presented the GMC.

Once I got past the language, the first 5 chapters being little more than back story and info dump, the telling, the summary dialogue, the wandering and vague POV, and the word “intercourse” being used about 1000 times and never once meaning sex, I enjoyed the story. Nearing the end of the book, I still haven’t had those nagging questions that I was left with after viewing the movie answered. And talk about a story based solely on misunderstanding! But then, that’s what that age was all about, wasn’t it? Everything was so proper and decorous it’s a wonder anyone was allowed to speak at all.

I think I’ll stick to movies based on Austen’s works from now on. In less than two hours of film, I learned almost exactly the same information (that was necessary to the plot) and my head didn’t hurt from trying to keep track of who everybody was to whom, how they (and all their ancestors and their ancestors’ dogs) came to reside in that particular locale, which cousin inherited a title and why, etc., etc., ad nauseam. I also got to see the gorgeous settings and interesting people Austen never does get around to describing in any detail. That said, I am glad I read it. I’m also glad I’m almost finished with it.

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The Twisted Sister’s reading:

I’m between books right now. I’m starting Marilyn’s Intimate Enemy later today as a gift of time to myself. I don’t read a lot of books, but I listen to them. Just finished Tess Gerritsen’s Harvest. Awesome! I think my favorite of her books has been Gravity.

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Claude Mary’s reading:

Currently I am reading the Undiscovered Self by C.G. Jung. It is one of the 66 books on a reading list at our church. I suspect that it won’t have cutting edge information to impart. I am on chapter 2 and the information is stuff I am already familiar with. Luckily the book is short. So why I am reading it? Because I said I would.

After I am finished with it I plan to read Eragon, a children’s book that has a dragon and a hero on a quest. I go through phases where I enjoy reading children’s books.

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Ashlynn’s Reading :

I just finished reading ACHERON by Sherrilyn Kenyon for the 2nd time. I LOVE her series of Dark-Hunters!! Anyone that knows me, knows that Sherri is my absolute favorite author of all time. She also writes as Kinley MacGregor and I love those books as well.

But I’ll have to agree with Deanna and Marilyn. Love the Black Dagger series and all of Julia’s books. Highly recommend those too.

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Deanna’s reading:

A friend of mine recommended Maximum Ride – The Angel Experiment by James Patterson. I just started it a couple of nights ago, but haven’t had much time to sit and read (Thanksgiving, cleaning, you know…). So far I like it. It’s a young adult, but so far not bad.

The book I finished just before this was Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward. I love, love, love her Black Dagger Brotherhood series!!! It’s full of totally hot, very alpha heros. And the heroines aren’t fluffy or whimpy even when faced with rather harsh situations.

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Marilyn’s reading:

I’ve just finished this book and thought it was wonderful, as Julia’s books always are. It takes place at the same time and covers the same events as her last book, The Lost Duke of Wyndham. So though we see some of the same scenes and events unfold, we’re seeing them through different eyes, something I enjoyed a lot.

Thomas has been raised to be the Duke of Wyndham, and has been engaged to Amelia practically since birth. He hardly knows her, though, and has put off the marriage because he rather likes being engaged rather than married. But then a cousin he never knew existed shows up — an older cousin — and suddenly he’s faced with the prospect of not being the duke, after all. Too bad, really, since he’s finally getting acquainted with his fiancee and discovering that marriage, to her, at least, might be quite . . . ah, pleasurable.

I won’t say more about the plot — just that the book contains Julia’s usual wonderful characters and great dialogue. First time I read her, I immediately glommed everything that had come before. IMO, she writes the best dialogue in the business. Get it at Amazon.

Sandee’s Reading The Dresden Files

I picked up an audio book from Cracker Barrel to make a long drive seem less so… and got hooked!!  Jim Butcher has created a wonderful fantasy hero with Harry Dresden, wizard in present day Chicago.  The books are plot driven, fast paced thrillers with magic and a subtle curtain between real life and the Nevernever.  After a few of these books, the Sci-Fi channel picked up the characters and made a series out of it.  I even bought the first season on DVD to watch how it translated to the screen.  In Harry Dresden, Jim Butcher has created a protagonist who embodies all the characteristics of a damsel in distress saving warrior without the brute strength.  We suffer through as Harry figures out the problems when it’s too late to keep from getting badly hurt.  I like my heros flawed, and Harry is a good one.  I just finished the 4th book in the series, Summer Knight and am off to begin Death Masks.  Fun stuff!!  spw