Vanessa’s Comments (group member since Jun 15, 2017)

Vanessa’s comments from the Read, Reading, Planning to Read and More group.

Hi Everyone... I've been busy with real life and have been reading when I can. I have been reading a fairly good series, (10 books), Ultimate Crookshollow Holiday Collection: 10 shifter paranormal romance novels I like most of the characters, and I like the idea of a quaint English town full of supernaturals. The author could have used an editor and she makes crazy mistakes like calling the cousin his brother and using the wrong name. I think that she tried too hard to be diverse and inclusive. That said, I seem to be committed to the completion of all of the books.

For the Virgin River fans, Netflix has a whole season of the first Virgin River books. I didn't know that these were being adapted for TV. I'm going to check them out.

HBW... I agree about Lisa Kleypas, she's a great historical author.

Re: Elizabeth Hunter, I met her in Dallas and she was with Grace Draven at a later event that they co-sponsored. I found her to be nice but very stand-offish. Most authors are there to meet their fans, mingle with the bloggers, and promote for their publishers. She gave off a stay away air, so much that my friend asked me what was up her "butt", both times we met with her. It was the first time that I had been to an event that big so I didn't know what to expect. I think that she is just a hard person to get to know and that she lets few people close. I also think that there is a place for politics and a fan Facebook page isn't one of them, IMHO.

I think that's my problem too. The carrying of the books is not as easy as stowing my kindle.

LAB... Did you have a chance to read any of the "free" books from the KissCon that we went to? I haven't. I need to get going on my book totals too, or I won't make my goal. (I'm at 176 and my goal is 200). Oh Well!

Also Ilona Andrews posted another Sean and Dina snippet on their web site, it is under Happy Thanksgiving, I think.

I finished the pirate section of Jennifer Ashley's older books,

The Pirate Next Door

The Pirate Hunter

The Care & Feeding of Pirates

I'm now reading a weird mix of shifter stories by the same author that I got on KU or for $.99.

Ultimate Crookshollow Holiday Collection: 10 shifter paranormal romance novels It's not too bad, I am wrapped up in the stories for the most part. There is no drawn out boring parts so far but the misunderstanding trope is irritating me.

Ilona Andrews posted a surprise Innkeeper snippet...

https://ilona-andrews.com/surprise-sn...

Sean and Dina!

Sorry, I forgot to add if you haven't read all of the short novels in Ashley's Shifters Unbound series, volume 2 is on sale for $.99.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...

Kristi... First of all I am very sorry for your loss. I hope that the insurance stuff all works out. I hate what the insurance companies do to dictate your care, if a doctor doesn't follow everything just so, they don't pay them either.
Grandma is 103, and doing pretty good. They are finally going to get a home health aid for her. She is having a hard time showering and has resorted to sponge baths all of the time. I think that it is about time, way past time IMHO. She is quick as ever, it's just that the volume of everything, (including our voices), has to be on high. Thanks for asking. How is your hubby doing?

We are now at my Dad's in Georgia for Thanksgiving, and on to my Aunt and Uncles up in Blue Ridge, GA tomorrow and then on home, (with a million others), to CT this weekend.

Lulu... While these aren't the best historicals that she has written, I did enjoy them. The Nvengaria series has some paranormal/magical aspects to it and the pirate series has a tiny cross-over w/Nvengaria.
Also the first 2 Nvengaria books are quite smexy, but there is a reason for that and the next 2 are tamer.

HappyBookWorm... I'm sorry, I forgot to mention about the Gunnie Rose book. She is a survivor, a crack shot, and the world has a kind of a magical, dystopian/western feel. I happen to like Harris's off kilter series, like her Midnight, Texas series.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I have been in an historical kind of mood. I started out reading a Christmas story by Jennifer Ashley, A First-Footer for Lady Jane: Sweet Regency Holiday Romance and decided to read a couple of her other Nvengaria historicals.
Highlander Ever After and The Longest Night

Once again, because there was an excerpt in the back of book 4, I started on The Pirate Next Door The Pirate Next Door I'm sure that I will finish this series too.

TINNGG... I'm so glad that 3rd son is feeling better. Thoughts and prayers to you and yours for a Happy Thanksgiving!

Carol... Is peace talks a Dresden novel? Whattever happened to his Cinder Spires steampunk series?

Vinity .. I had such a love/hate relationship with the Hollows series. I loved one character to have him killed off, the other "witch" character was a weird one, her roommate was hot & cold and also a weirdo and yet I was a bit pleased with the end.

Kristi... I'll see what our schedule is & give you a buzz if we can meet up.

Did you folks see that Heather Killough-Walden has a new series out? As with her other series, they are somewhat related. I never did read the last "Kings" book, I'm going to have to see about that.

The Good, The Bad, The Cursed

Doug... I Truly believe that aging is in your mind. If you think of yourself as old, then you are. All of my life my father's mother said that she was old, and she died in her 70's. I have never heard my mother's mother say that she is old, and she's 103 and still going. I'm sure you aren't there yet. ;-)

I still enjoy historicals, pnr, fantasy, sci fi, and the occasional contemporary. Sometimes I go through periods where all I want to read are historicals, or funny books, or pnr, but for the most part I like to mix it up.

Have you ever started a series and even though it is ridiculously far fetched and not that well written you continue to read book after book in a series? I get my self caught up in some crazy series that way. That said, I've been on an historical/fantasy kick.

I've been reading an early Jennifer Ashley series, they're all based on fairy tales, (Cinderella, Snow White, etc.).

Penelope and Prince Charming

The Mad, Bad Duke

I like how authors put a spin on the "classic" fairy tales. I've read quite a few series with this theme. I just wish that they would use more obscure folk tales too.

I'll be traveling for Thanksgiving. N.C. to see Grandma, Ga to see my Dad, and later to my Aunt and Uncle's place in the Ga mountains. I'll wave when I go by Kristi!

Doug... I love the titles, and Happy Belated Birthday. I hope that it was a good day .

I liked A Wicked Kind of Husband and look forward to the next in the series.

I didn't know that Hamilton was an editor. I gave up on her books a long time ago, sadly she needed an editor too. I think that she also has another book in her never ending series coming out too, but I didn't think that anyone was interested.
The next Charlaine Harris Gunnie Rose book, "A Longer Fall, Gunnie Rose Book 2" will be out on January 14th.
Sadly the phone app still doesn't allow for links, yet.

I was browsing all of my pre-orders and this came up, talk about old urban fantasy series ;-)

American Demon
This is a Hollows book #14! It won't be out until June 16th, 2020. I think that it will be nice to visit with Rachel and friends again.

Also out in June- (I won't be racing to read it, I'm not sure that I like the turn that Mac's and even Barrow's story has taken, but I will eventually)

Kingdom of Shadow and Light (Fever book #11)

Out next July--

Spells for the Dead
I can't believe that I have to wait 8 more months for another Soulwood book.

If you read Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld series, Elena and Clay's twins Kate and Logan Have a series out too. Wolf's Bane came out in October and the second book, Wolf's Curse will be out in March.

A KU author mentioned by HappyBookWorm, Hailey Edwards has the second of her Beginner's Guide to Necromancy spin-off series, The Potentate of Atlanta series book 2 will be out in May, Pack of Lies
I did finish How to Kiss an Undead Bride: The Epilogues
I like how the story flowed and the surprise bad guys were well done.

I think that just reading most of the Hailey Edwards and T.S. Joyce series have more than made up for the cost of KU. All of their books are on KU I believe.

Out tomorrow is Emperor's Throne I hope that the series ends on a good note.

Any other good reads coming out tomorrow?

I also voted for Briggs and The Unhoneymooners.

The only other book that read on that list was the Cassandra Clare YA book, but I only gave it 3 stars, so I didn't vote for it.
Mark Lawrence is looking for write in votes for Holy Sister in the fantasy category

Bump, Bump, Bump... Categories to fill folks!! LOL!! ;-)

TINNGG... I am sending healing thoughts and prayers to you both. I can't imagine the pressure that you have been under these last few months. I think that the tangible feel of the books and crafts have a way of keeping you grounded through all of this. Whatever works to keep your spirits up. I wish you strength.

If anyone wants a light read/series, I have been reading A Touch of Magic Mysteries,(it's a trilogy). These are lighter mysteries and have been an easy series to read while travelling. I find that they are hard to put down.
Newly Wed and Slightly Dead
Couture and Curses
and Wedding Bells and Deadly Spells