Rather than a review, I thought it might be interesting to literally track my reading over a week and the briefest impressions of what I've read. This doesn't include work reading or blog posts.
1. Winter of Dreams by Susan Napier - given to me by Laura Vivanco
Laura thought I might like this high conflict category. And it was ok. The H/H were both artists and there was a hidden identity storyline. I quite like Susan Napier. She's written a couple of shockers - I still cringe when I think of the scene in The Cruellest Lie where the hero paws the heroine in front of his son to show she 'belongs' to him - but I think she's one of those writers who really makes efforts to so something different and interesting with the category format. This
one wasn't particularly great but I quite liked it.
2. The Longest Night by Jennifer Ashley one of the novellas in A Christmas Ball anthology - bought from Amazon
I couldn't finish this. I like Christmas anthologies (best ever is Under the Mistletoe by Mary Balogh - four Baloghs, all Christmas-themed - bliss) and was keen to read more Ashley, having enjoyed The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie so much. Unfortunately, this didn't work for me. I've only tried one other Ashley, The Mad Bad Duke which was a DNF for me, an odd paranormal Regency featuring the rather alarming Nvengarians, some of whom are 'logosh' (shapeshifters). I really tried with the Mad Bad Duke, but I found the world it evoked rather OTT and uncompelling. Unfortunately, The Longest Night was another Nvengarian outing, and another DNF for me.
3. Christmas edition of The Radio Times - bought from supermarket
This is a Christmas tradition, even now that I don't watch television much.
4. Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase - given to me by Laura Vivanco
I've previously commented that, with the exception of Lord of Scoundrels, Chase doesn't seem to work for me as a writer. I've quite liked the other books I've read of hers but it's never really got beyond 'quite liking'. And Lord Perfect is no exception.
This book features the H/H (Bathsheba and Benedict) chasing her daughter and his nephew, who have set off on an adventure, across the country and falling in love in the process. My problem? No real conflict between the H/H. I think this is something that has cropped up for me in other Chase books. Her characters quite often behave in a way that is 'rational' or not 'typical' for a romance character. And on one level I'm thinking, yes, well, he/she's not acting in a WTF manner. But on the other hand, there's no conflict. So for example, you have Bathsheba not telling Benedict she loves him.... then getting out of bed and meeting him in the garden to tell him she loves him because she doesn't want them to part the next day without him knowing.
Oh, right. *disappointed expression*
And then, puzzlingly, we simultaneously get this acceptance on both their parts that they can't be together, a point that was presumably all about Bathsheba's ineligibility, but that wasn't really articulated in a way that I found convincing - not when Benedict seemed so much his own man.
Disappointing.
5. The Observer - bought from corner shop
Sunday newspaper.
6. Peace At Night by Jill Munro - present from my husband's late auntie for my older son some years ago now
The little one gets two books at bedtime. And for the last several weeks, he's been choosing the same two books every night, this one and Time, a ladybird book in which we follow Billy, Sally and their family through a typical day. I can recite Peace at Night by heart.
The hour was late.
Mr Bear was tired, Mrs Bear was tired, and Baby Bear was tired.
So they all went to bed.
Mrs Bear fell asleep.
Mr Bear didn't.....
7. Wicked All Day by Liz Carlyle - bought from Amazon
This is my current read. I'm halfway and actually, thoroughly enjoying it. On one view, it's one of those of More of The Same books, not dissimilar to a few other Carlyles I've read and arguably some of the characters' sentiments feel too modern. But I'm really enjoying Mercer, the hero, who's just the right side of tortured.
I know all the other characters in the book, and actually, I'm finding that that's enriching this read for me, which I suspect might otherwise feel rather slight. Interesting.
What are you reading that's working? Or not?
Posts
10 comments:
Hmm. Maybe I'll have better luck next time. I've got a Charlotte Lamb to give to you ...
I like Carlyle, very solid for me. Chase is hit or miss. My fave of hers is actually Mr. Impossible.
I'm determined to read some of her backlist over break.
This is a fun list to read. I still have a rosy view of Chase, but I've only read, um, 2 of hers.
Oh, sometimes those more of the same books are just perfect. There are some authors who could please me with more of the same forever! Must check Carlyle!
I have an odd nostalgia for Winter of Dreams. There's a lot in it that's both ridiculous and sexist, but I remember liking that *both* characters were difficult people, both were talented, and both could be honest about their own flaws. I felt it stood out in a sea of unbalanced couples a la Betty Neels (perfect man, drippy woman) and Mary Sueish books cataloguing flaws-that-were-really-strengths. However, as I write that, I realize it's damning with faint praise :) Perhaps my fondness for this book was simply a function of my being a teenager. I definitely had a phase of responding strongly to stories of young women figuring out where their talents lay.
Oh, and I'm not a Chase reader (Your Scandalous Ways was the first to not completely set my teeth on edge) nor a Carlyle reader. However, I just enjoyed an Eloisa James for the first time (This Duchess of Mine), so pleasant surprises are possible!
I can't believe it: someone else who knows Peace At Last (that was the title in Canada). Don't you LOVE Mr. Bears wild and wacky eyes at the end? Oh, I read that book so many times to the kidlets!
Wasn't the Balogh 5 stories? Four reprints and a new one. And the new one, about the wealthy cit and the daughter of an earl, the estranged couple, sounds a tad like her new book, A Matter of Class. What were the other stories ... the teacher, Jane, the impoverished childhood friend, no room at the inn -- I'm blanking out on the last. Off to google! I was right: A Star of Bethlehem about the missing diamond. That was an unusual marriage wasn't it?
I'm not passionate about Carlyle or Chase. I haven't "memorized" or inhaled any of their characters. I'm not sure why. The Chase I like the best is about the very well dressed man marrying the woman who is so flyaway. Set in the North of England ... something about canals? Trains?
You know, Tumperkin, I'm also one of those readers who have tried Chase over and over again, and while LoS is in my Top 15 romances of all time, not one other of her books have worked for me.
I DNF'd Your Scandalous Ways this summer. And I think you've hit the nail on the head. I need some angst and drama in my H/h relationship, and that's not why Chase is so beloved.
Your post really clarified my thinking. Thank you.
Janet -- That's Miss Wonderful. I liked that one ok, too.
I'm currently reading Karen Fowler's WIT'S END, which I've been saving for a while - it's not a romance, though.
I read a couple of Kathleen Korbel categories recently, from the early-mid 1990s. The style, particularly of the erotic scenes, really felt dated to me, even though I enjoyed the stories themselves.
My favorite Carlyle is NO TRUE GENTLEMAN. Sometimes, her books suffer a little from series-itis, but I've enjoyed all of them enough that she's an autobuy for me. I recall her first one, MY FALSE HEART, was quite good, but it's been a long time since I read it.
For Chase, my faves are MR. IMPOSSIBLE, LORD OF SCOUNDRELS, THE LAST HELLION...of the newer ones, probably NOT QUITE A LADY is my fave. THE DEVIL'S DELILAH is fluffy and fun. I tend to read her for the witty banter.
I love the Jill Murphy books! I've bought 'Five Minutes Peace' for my son for Christmas.
I've also had a ton of fun finding some of my favourite books from childhood. Did you ever read anything by Rosemary Wells? She wrote a number of children's books but my faves were 'Noisy Nora' and 'Morris' Disappearing Bag'.
Hmmm. I also only buy the Radio Times Christmas issue. I think I'm determined to keep buying it until I manage to complete the cryptic crossword in the back pages. I've been doing it for years and haven't yet managed to do so.
Post a Comment