There is only one good thing
about taking a medical leave, and that is I have time to catch up on my
reading. When I’m writing and in the middle of a book, it’s more difficult to
leave my world, and enter someone else’s. So today I’m giving a list of the books
I’ve read over the past few months, books that have helped me forget the
pain…and the frustration of not being able to work. The good thing about being
a writer is, I can call it all research!
Since I knew I had a blog
post coming up, I thought I’d share some of the fabulous books I’ve read
recently. I have good days and bad, so when I have the good, I can post an
entry for a later date. Unfortunately, I never know if on that date, I’m gonna
be having a day where I’m feeling well enough to respond to any remarks, so if
I’ve missed you at any time, my apologies, and I hope that when my issues are
resolved I can get back to being more reliable regarding comments.
Romance novels aren’t just
romances anymore. Ask any avid reader, and they’ll tell you that romances now
span the genres from Science Fiction to Mystery to pretty much every subgenre
in between. Usually the novels are half romance and half the other genre, so
readers have a wonderful assortment of stories to choose from. Of course, there
are still what I think of as the ‘classic’ romance story, where the plot is
minimal and the story primarily centers around the relationship between the
hero and heroine. And I, of course, love them all, cause I never, ever, met a
book that I didn’t like or learn from in some way.
So here’s the outstanding assortment of books I was grateful to have read:
Shadow Bound by Erin Kellison
A paranormal romance, very
dark and quite scary. I had a difficult time putting this one down. The
concept, plot and characters were just so exceptional.
No Proper Lady by Isabel Cooper
The tattoo on the back of the
cover model is a clue to this time-travel romance. But there’s magic involved,
so deftly woven into the world that it’s wonderfully believable. I loved how
those in the past knew about other possible futures, so it made the heroine’s
entry into the historical world, and her connection with the hero, such a
fast-paced love story.
Wolfsbane by Patricia Briggs
I’ve reader several of her
Mercedes series, but have to say, I adore this series the most (Masques was the
first book, best read in order). The relationship between the heroine and Wolf
is one where you know they are the only two people in the world meant for each
other. And talk about a tortured hero…. It’s the skill of a great writer that
makes you fall in love with him despite (or maybe because of?) his horrid past.
The Land of Painted Caves by Jean M. Auel
Although I have been looking
forward to reading this conclusion to the Earth’s Children series, the length of
this book made me hesitate to get started on it for fear I wouldn’t be able to
put it down. There was a lot of cave-visiting, and it made me wonder if it was
based on real-life research on the part of the author. It was a joy to read
more about one of my most favorite-fictional-characters-of-all-time again,
Ayla.
Lord and Lady Spy by Shana Galen
I can’t express how much fun
this book was! Savor it for a time when you’re feeling blue and need an escape
to make you feel good. This is a historical, where both the hero and heroine
have been spies and are then retired, giving them a chance to know and
appreciate each other. Then they are both sent on a mission to find a murderer,
and whoever wins gets to be a spy again. Clever and so charming, this book was a
real treat and another must-read.
Forever a Lady by Delilah Marvelle
What I consider a ‘classic’
romance, this was a page-turner. It’s not often I read a book where the heroine
is even more of a risk-taker than the hero, and this was refreshing…although the
heroine is lucky she didn’t get into more trouble than she did.
Quatrain by Sharon Shinn
One of my favorite fantasy
authors, this is a collection of four short stories, in several of her worlds,
including the “Summers at Castle Auburn” world, which is the very first book of
hers I read, and still my favorite. These short stories are just as fabulous as
her books…she always leaves you wanting more, no matter the length.
The Capture of the Earl of
Glencrae by Stephanie Laurens
Another classic historical romance,
with a Scottish laird and a feisty English heiress, this is the kind of book
that has you laughing with joy and cheering at the end. It appears to be one of
a long line of family connected books, with three closely connected books, this
being the third kidnapping by the same laird, so needless to say, I’m going to
have to hunt down the rest of these books.
All these books are written
by masters of the craft, and I hope you get a chance to read them. Although I
enjoyed all the adventures, I’m looking forward to being able to write my own
once again.
Magically Yours,
Kathryne
