Susan Coventry's Blog, page 39

Sizzling Summer Reads

In preparation for the long July 4 holiday weekend, don't forget to pack some books!  Here's a list of 5 sizzling summer reads to tuck in your beach bag:

See You Then by Susan Coventry
The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand
Mister O by Lauren Blakely
Beautiful Secret by Christina Lauren
On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves

Visit my Reviews page for complete reviews of books 2-5 and of course the first book is on my Home page, with an excerpt from Kirkus Reviews.  Enjoy the long weekend and happy reading!

 

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The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is a bestselling novel about a bookstore owner and his family.  When I read a bestseller, I can't help but have high expectations, however, I was disappointed with this story.  Mr. Fikry is a widowed bookseller who is at a low point in his life until a child is literally dropped at his doorstep and gives him something to live for.  A desperate single mother leaves two-year-old Maya in Fikry's bookshop with a note asking him to care for her.  Fikry is reluctant at first but decides to keep Maya rather than give her up to foster care.  Shortly thereafter, Mr. Fikry falls in love and marries a woman who shares his passion for books, however, his contentment doesn't last for long.  The discovery of Maya's father leads to another family tragedy and then Fikry is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. There are some touching moments and several nods to book lovers, however, it wasn't enough to make me enjoy this book.  For a more uplifting story about a bookstore owner, try The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend.

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The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand

I've read several books by Elin Hilderbrand and The Rumor ranks as one of my favorites.  This story follows the lives of two best friends, Madeline and Grace, as they navigate their roles as wives and mothers on the charming island of Nantucket.  Madeline is a novelist who is struggling with writer's block while Grace is a homemaker and garden enthusiast who falls in love with her gardener.  Madeline's teenage son is dating Grace's teenage daughter, who has troubles of her own.  The Rumor addresses themes of family, love, friendship and betrayal with a healthy dose of humor mixed in. Hilderbrand does a good job depicting real characters with real problems without weighing the reader down.  If you like family-related fiction, I highly recommend The Rumor.

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Run the Risk by Lori Foster

Run the Risk is Book 1 of the Love Undercover Series of which I've read three out of four.  In this story, Logan Riske is an undercover detective, on the hunt for his friend's killer.  Logan has reason to suspect Pepper Yates and her brother Rowdy (gotta love the names) of being involved, so naturally he gets close to Pepper as part of his "investigation".  When Logan discovers that they're all on the same side, he takes Pepper into protective custody at his hide-away cabin on a secluded lake.  You can see where this is going, right?  Lori Foster writes steamy love stories with danger as a backdrop.  I like how Foster portrays her women characters as strong and feisty and her male characters as well, yummy!  I read three of these books out of sequence, but I don't think it really matters.  You will get to know several characters by just reading one book.  If you like romance novels with a little edge, give Lori Foster a try.

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The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler

The Book of Speculation takes the reader on a strange, mystical journey, alternating between the past and present lives of a family of circus performers.  The women in Simon Watson's family were adept at holding their breath under water for long periods, however, several of them died from drowning, including his mother.  Simon begins researching his family history, and with the help of an antique circus journal, discovers the full story behind the mysterious deaths.  He becomes obsessed with saving his sister, Enola, from suffering the same fate and attempts to rid them of the family curse.  When I first started reading this story, I was drawn in by the element of mystery, however, as it went along, I lost interest.  The tale became inundated with tarot card readings and "seers" and I grew weary of it.  For fans of magical, other-worldly stories, you may like The Book of Speculation.  There have been some comparisons made to Water for Elephants; of the two I'd choose the elephants.

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The Obsession by Nora Roberts

The Obsession is a novel of suspense/romance that follows the classic Nora Roberts pattern of story-telling.  As a young girl, Naomi discovers a horrible secret about her father and his crimes against women put him in prison for life. Years later, Naomi has built a new identity for herself as a professional photographer and has relocated to a beautiful old home in Washington state.  There she meets Xander, a mechanic and a looker, who takes an active interest in her.  Things are going well, until a woman is found raped and murdered not far from Naomi's new home.  This sets off an investigation of a copycat killer that may be someone from Naomi's past.  Nora Roberts has a distinct way of sucking the reader in and although the story was somewhat predictable, I was fully engaged by it.  I especially liked the characters, the setting and the role of Tag, an abandoned mutt that Naomi rescues from the side of the road.  If you're a fan of Nora, you will most likely add The Obsession to your list of favorites.  If you've never read her (hard to believe) this would be a good one to get your feet wet.

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Mister O by Lauren Blakely

Ok, I admit it, the tantalizing cover and title lured me in to reading Mister O, a contemporary romance novel that is as steamy as it sounds.  Mister O is actually the name of a dirty cartoon character, written and drawn by Nick, a self-proclaimed expert at meeting a woman's needs.  In this story, the woman he has his eye on is Harper, his best friend's sister, who is supposed to be off limits.  Nick and Harper start out as friends,but when Harper asks for his help to become more comfortable with the opposite sex, Mister O is only too happy to oblige.  What makes this friends to lovers tale stand out, is the sense of humor that is woven throughout the story.  Low on angst, high on sweet and steamy sex scenes, Mister O is a fun romp!  I will definitely read more by this author.

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Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom

Glory Over Everything is a historical fiction novel about slavery that follows some of the characters from The Kitchen House, however, it could be read as a stand-alone story.  Jamie is the son of a white plantation owner and a black slave.  He escaped the oppressive conditions of his childhood home and is now living as a successful "white" man in Pennsylvania.   When Jamie becomes romantically involved with a married, white woman, he's afraid his true identity will surface, destroying their lives and that of their unborn child.  Jamie's life becomes further complicated, when his young servant Pan, is kidnapped by slave traders.  Jamie risks his life by travelling deep into slave territory to rescue Pan, procuring the help of several others along the way, including a slave woman he once knew.  Glory Over Everything depicts slavery from various points of view while it reads like an action/adventure story.  While engaging, I can't say that I felt a true connection to the characters.  I was disappointed with some of Jamie's decisions, however, he did redeem himself at the end.  Not a bad story overall, but I've liked other novels about slavery more than this one.

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Writing Update

Still editing my second book, Starring You and Me, however, the cover design is complete!  Keeping my fingers crossed for a late summer release...stay tuned for more updates.

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Sweet Filthy Boy by Christina Lauren

Sweet Filthy Boy is Book 1 of the contemporary romance series, Wild Seasons.  The duo Christina Lauren appear on my favorites list for their Beautiful Bastard series.  In this story, Mia meets Ansel while on a girls weekend in Las Vegas.  After a wild night of partying, they wake up married, which wouldn't be as much of a shock, if he didn't live in Paris!  Instead of opting for an annulment, Ansel convinces Mia to accompany him to Paris for the summer, before they make any other rash decisions.  The plot is a little far-fetched, although, what happens in Vegas...however, the characters are likable and the sex scenes are steamy.  Personally, I liked the Beautiful Bastard series better, but this one is still entertaining.  If you enjoy contemporary romance with plenty of humor and sizzle, you might like Sweet Filthy Boy.

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