Friday Reads 8.2.24

It is a truth known to all readers that an impending hurricane means it’s time to stock up on all the best books, charge your Kindle, put batteries in your book light, and otherwise prepare to hunker down and ride it out.

Well, and maybe a few other things, as well.

Between deadlines, summer colds, and afternoon storms, we haven’t gotten much beach time on our retreat. And now, a tropical storm is swirling to our west, which will probably bring rain and storms for the remainder of our time here.

I’m sad, but I’m also much more rested than I’ve been in months. Getting ahead of schedule with the book meant I got to take the week off. And that means I parked my tush on the porch swing and read. Or in a beach chair and read. And when it rained, I hit the couch and read. I threw in some bike rides, walked our invisible dog, and did some yoga, too. Actual, bonafide, rest.

So much of my reading is for work, so I try to intersperse that with books that I want to read—and to reward myself for finishing the draft (and force myself to get some altitude on the story) that meant revisiting a favorite that I knew would truly take me away.

You guessed it. I reread FOURTH WING. Spent my downtime with Violet and Xaden and Tairn and Sgaeyl and Basgaith War College and {{{insert happy sighs here}}}.

And the second I finished it, I dove directly into IRON FLAME.

(And you better believe I’ve already blocked off January 21-23 to read ONYX STORM when it releases.)

Yes, I am obsessed. I really do adore these books, and it’s been such a lovely break from the hard work and obligations of the past several months. Characters are everything to me, but the setting, the plot, and the hot, hot, hot romance are great, too. I absolutely love Violet Sorrengail. She is exactly the kind of hero who embodies my own thematic link throughout my work: A woman finding her power. In her case, literal POWER.

I am also about halfway through one of my own, 14, the second Taylor Jackson novel. I am putting three of the backlist books back into print (hurrah!), and they need a quick copyedit while I run through the formatting. I’m shocked—shocked!—at how many typos I’m finding. It’s like they found friends and procreated while I was away. We finalized the new cover for it today, and I am over the moon. More on all of that soon.

Big congrats to the brilliant Yasmin Angloe on the release of her new thriller, NOT WHAT SHE SEEMS. It goes atop my teetering pile…

And the fabulous Lauren Thoman, fellow Nashvillian, has a great book out this week that I loved and blurbed called YOU SHOULDN’T BE HERE.

“A hip, fresh, mind-bending mystery with characters you’ll love to pieces. Madelyn is incredibly real, and her clever sleuthing skills bring to mind a modern-day paranormal Nancy Drew—righting serious wrongs and bringing justice to the land. Not to mention she’s the perfect foil to the jaw-droppingly yummy Alex. Loved it!”

I managed another step forward in the 22 Steps series, too! Though we’re only on step eight out of twenty-two, it is possibly the most important of all the steps needed to get a book from my brain into your hands.

Now, dragons are calling. So tell me, how are you faring this lovely Friday? I’d love to hear what you’re reading this weekend! Any recommendations? Do you love the dragons as much as I do???