I Just Finished Reading (or I'm Reading Next!)

[Ender]

Finished Bloodlines by Richelle Mead, the first book in her spinoff Vampire Academy series. I suspect she got a new editor because her writing has noticeably improved in this series. I liked it and will pick up the next book from the library on Saturday.

[Emma]

Have just finished reading Cloud Atlas and also the last couple of the Georgia Kinkaid series, though was slightly disappointed by the last one.
Have almost finished One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern and then looking forward to getting started on When She Woke by Hillary Jordon,

[Malin]

I'm currently reading the prequel novellas to Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass, and this absolutely qualifies as vaginal fantasy. The protagonist is both a highly skilled assassin and a teenage girl. I'm enjoying them a lot at the moment, although protagonist is quite arrogant. Based on the blurb for the novel, I suspect she may be knocked down a peg or two over the course of these novellas.

[Tanya Lea]

Just finished Sins & Needles....Holy Batman it was good! It was a nice change of pace from some romance paranormal reads that are my typical reading material. Kinda has a Quentin Tarantino feel for a contemporary romance. It's got sexy scenes, gritty drug lords and a hot tattoo artist. It's definitely one of my top reads so far for 2013.

[Claire]

Followed up on Felicia's rec for Hope's Folly and have to second it!!! The older protagonists are a nice change of pace, and I thought the sci-fi was well done - felt very gritty and realistic, not all shiny and chromed. Bonus points for a ship-kitty!

I've heard that the next book (#4 in the series) is also good, but that Hope's Folly is the standout by far.

[Michelle]

Vicky wrote: "I just finished the 4th Outlander book . Now that I'm more invested in the series I'm getting nitpicky about things, but I'm still loving it!"

Vicky wrote: "I've become addicted to Outlander. I read books 1 & 2 a few years ago, but after re-reading Outlander I had to keep going.

I just finished and now I'm working on [bookcov..."

haha! I'm about 1/4 away away from finishing Outlander and I have to say...I'm obsessed! I even convinced my boyfriend to go to a pub that has whisky, celtic music/drinking songs to get a bit of a fix. Even at work, I keep thinking about it. I think it's the first more romantic story that I enjoy. I'll likely read the rest of the series, but before I immediately bury myself deeper into Jamie's arms...

I plan on reading Sherri Smith's Orleans and Sigmund Brouwer's Fortress of Mist, two books I've won from giveaways recently. And then I need to read [book:A Storm of Swords|62291] before the new season of Game of Thrones begins. :D

I would be curious to learn of any other books/series that are similar to Outlander.

[Chandra]

I recently finished the Succubus - Georgina Kincaid series. I loved it! Seth and Carter were my favorites throughout, but I also loved Aubrey and Godiva. If I were Georgina and could shape shift I would totally have turned in to a cat and laid around doing kitty things all day with them! :D

[Vicky]

Michelle wrote: "haha! I'm about 1/4 away away from finishing Outlander and I have to say...I'm obsessed!"

Welcome to the club! lol

I'm about 2/3rds done with (Outlander, #5). It's set up differently than the first four books and has less of an overarching conflict to the whole book, but I'm still loving it. Some of the newly introduced characters are great. :) It is a bit long though, 56 hours on audiobook - so I'm reading some other books in between.



I got for free on Nook and was quite impressed with it. The world building is really neat.

I'm also working on , since I wanted to see what happened after the end of the 2nd book.

[Stacey]

I just finished the Curse Workers series by Holly Black. Nice fun teeny series. Very quick read!

[Shannon]

Andrea wrote: "Just finished which I enjoyed a great deal. Gave it a five and reviewed it. I'm about to start ."

The Slightly series, also known as the Bedwyn series, is one of my favorite Mary Balogh series. She's by far one of my favorite authors.

[Krystle ~A Booknatic~]

Just started , Love me some BDB!!!

[Kat]

Just finished Naked in Death by J.D. Robb and now reading The Return of the King J.R.R. Tolkien!

[Justine]

Just finished re-reading and will be reading - but I can't let myself start until after midterms. (Why why why did I think going back to school was a good idea?)

[Tof]

Just Finished: Christa Charter's Schooled!: A Lexy Cooper Videogame Mystery, and Sweet Guilty Love Bites by Amano Shunita (scanlated yuri manga, so not on Goodreads)
Now Reading: Blue Angel by Logan Belle

[Claire]

Justine wrote: "Just finished re-reading and will be reading - but I can't let myself start until after midterms. (Why why why did I think go..."

I just started reading Slave to Sensation since its available as an ebook from my library (and the wait list for the alt is too long for me to get to it this month). I'm surprised at how much I'm liking it! Does the rest of the series have similar plot lines just with different characters, or are they all a little more unique and still good?

[Justine]

Claire wrote: "I just started reading Slave to Sensation since its available as an ebook from my library..."

I've never actually read that one - I started with Caressed By Ice. There is significant development in the Psy/Changeling/human conflict throughout the series. I would go so far as to say they get better and better. Some of the romance plot elements get a little repetitive, but there are variations on the pairings - Psy/Changeling, Changeling/Changeling, etc. - and different barriers to the romance as well.

All in all, if you are enjoying the first book, I'd say you have a some fun reading ahead of you.

[Liv]

I've just started reading Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, it looks good so far.

Before that this month I've read Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth and Medalon by Jennifer Fallon.

I loved, loved, loved Bitter Greens and highly recommend it.

[Candice]

Haha wow this is fun to read.
I loved Ready Player One, Gone Girl, Middlesex so I can add my recommendation to those ones.
This month the only books I really enjoyed were Gone Girl and The Rosie Project I also read some others but had to force myself through them =/ Didn't get to read this months picks as my local stores didn't have them and my kobo has frozen completely dead to the point where kobo themselves can't get it going again and are sending me a replacement lol

[Claire]

Justine wrote: "Claire wrote: "I just started reading Slave to Sensation since its available as an ebook from my library..."

I've never actually read that one - I started with Caressed By Ice. There is significan..."

Thanks for the info! These covers make me glad I have a Kindle though - oh my mauve misty showers!


I liked "Nine Rules" from last summer enough to keep up with the author and just finished One Good Earl Deserves a Lover. It's the second in the follow-up trilogy and focuses on Pippa Marbury, a very bookish and scientific girl who falls in love with Cross - one of the owners behind The Fallen Angel gaming hell. I loved Pippa as a heroine (chapters from her point of view start with an excerpt from her research journal) and though Cross didn't grab me at first, I appreciated that he was an equal in intelligence to Pippa, but considerably more people-smart because of his past.

[Rachelle]

I'm not quite sure if I'm going to read it directly after this month's VF selection, but The Taken by Vicki Petersson (today's B&N Free Friday selection)is definitely going on my TBR list. It's a paranormal mystery romance and seems to be from the male point of view (if I'm reading the review on it correctly), which I think is very interesting since I've never seen that in a paranormal romance, or really any kind of romance for that matter.

[Mary]

Claire wrote: "Justine wrote: "Just finished re-reading and will be reading - but I can't let myself start until after midterms. (Why why wh..."

I'm a big Singh fan, so I consider all her books pretty amazeballs.

What I love is that she crafts this huge psy-changling world. There are all these different characters and generally they're all related somehow and they all show up in other books. Kiss of Snow is Hawke's book and I'm sure you're seeing Hawke in Slave to Senation. He shows up as a minor character in most of the books and it's great to see the build up to his own book. While Lucas and Sascha show up in most of other other books and it's fun to see their relationship grow and develop. Sascha really starts to come into her powers.

It's just nice to see this incredibly vibrant (and sexy!) world come to life.

With that being said there are some elements that can get really repetitive. Her guys are very alpha, and sometimes during the books I just get so sick of reading the phrase "predatory changeling male" to either excuse bad behavior or because the female lead isn't sure she can be with such a strong guy.

Either way, they're totally worth reading. I love 'em.

Sorry if all that was tl;dr!

[Claire]

Mary wrote: "With that being said there are some elements that can get really repetitive. Her guys are very alpha, and sometimes during the books I just get so sick of reading the phrase "predatory changeling male" to either excuse bad behavior or because the female lead isn't sure she can be with such a strong guy.

Either way, they're totally worth reading. I love 'em.

Sorry if all that was tl;dr! "

Not at all!! I feel like they're the kind of books that would be easy to read back-to-back, but then they might blend together and become too repetitive. I try and space my HR books out for the same reason - a little bit of candy is good, but a whole bunch can lead to tummy trouble.

[Audra]

I'm been reading and about to read too much to name. I'm reading more of Larissa Ione and alot of Highlander books right now.

[Dajinxed1]

I've become addicted to the Jack Reacher novels by Lee Child and have been working my way through the library's collection.

I just finished Naked Came the Phoenix by Maria Talley, Navada Barr, and 11 other authoresses.

This book I found really neat. 13 authors each writing one chapter in a murder mystery. All one story.

None of these books are Vaginal Fantasy but then you can't eat candy all the time. :)

[Cat]

I just started reading My Wicked Gladiators by Lauren Hawkeye and HOLY CANNOLI it HAAAWWWT!! Normally I wouldn't have even took a second look at this genre but I thank VF for getting to read stuff like this! :)

[Candice]

Oh my giddy aunt!
Anne Bishops new book I have just discovered it, I must get my hands on it somehow!!! *scuttles off to work as fast as possible to see if we're going to stock it*

[Bitchie]

I just finished the Experiment in Terror series by Karina Halle. There isn't much sex in the series (none at all til book 3 I think) but this is an excellent series. Kinda different, about a web series with real ghost hunters, with a real slow burn relationship between the two leads. Highly recommended, and book one Darkhouse is currently free on Amazon!

Now I don't know what to read, I read books 3-6, plus two novellas in the same series, in just a couple of days, now I'm in a book funk.

[Dajinxed1]

Happy Dance!!!! I just found out there is a new Mercy Thompson story out. Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs. I am soooo getting that, soon as I talk hubby into getting if for me. Hmmm....

[Clayton]

I just finished The Particular Sadness Of Lemon Cake. I saw it on my friend Alicia's To-Read shelf and had to read it myself. The concept of a girl being able to taste the feelings of the people who prepared her food was just so bizarre, yet intriguing I had to find out what it was about. The concept was great, though the story was a bit draggy at points. Needless to say it is not a happy story.

I did appreciate the perspective of a girl who learns to live her life with this uncanny ability to see into people's lives without them knowing, but being to afraid to share her secret out of fear of being institutionalized or judged.

The major downfall was how the author seemed to assume that we would never know who was talking and utterly abused the terms "I said" or "He/She said." I finished it in 2 days regardless. 3 stars I say.

[Ender]

Gracious, I thought I'd updated this thread.

I've read a couple more books in the In Death series. The prose blows, but I think the author is getting more interesting in exploring crime, technology, and the futuristic world. Plus, I'll keep on reading them because it's a series, and I like series. And apparently, this one basically never ends. : )

I've been reading the Dresden Files series, too. It's poorly written with barely any character development until book four (and even then...), but it's very well plotted. If you like that sort of thing and can ignore the bad writing (REALLY bad writing), then give it a go. I'll be starting on book #9 tonight.

I read one of the fairy tale Eloisa James novels, The Ugly Dutchess, and it was cute. I'll try to pick up the others at some point.

I've read various non-fiction books, but I don't think anyone would be interested in them unless you really like ancient civilizations and bronze-age weaponry.

[Peter]

...the Dresden Files series, too. It's poorly written with barely any character development until book four (and even then...), but it's very well plotted. If you like that sort of thing and can ignore the bad writing (REALLY bad writing)..."
I agree that the character development takes a while, but the interesting plots made it worth the read for me. Then his unfolding back story and the development of Thomas, Susan, and other supporting characters and villains made it more enjoyable.

Butcher is no Raymond Chandler, but, given the genre, brilliant prose isn't essential. His Latin is awful (although he excuses it as merely a focussing aid), and it sounds snappy. I had a few chuckles trying to understand and/or rationalize some of his choices.

I also enjoy some of his lighter touches such as bribing fairies with junk food, and Bob's obsession with romance novels and human love life.

[Dajinxed1]

Got and finished Frost Burned. Poor Mercy still can't catch a break, and when did Sam mate? Was that in River Marked? How did I miss that? *sigh*.

As I said good book. Don't want to spoil for anyone so I'll leave it there.

Next on my waiting list is Inferno. The next in the Chronicles of Nick series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Due out in April. I'm sure I'll find something else in between.

[Dajinxed1]

Re: the Dresden Series

I'm not a fan of Butcher's writing. In fact Dresden is the only series by him I can stand. And for me it's because the character building is so developed.

Although I will say that for Dresden you kinda need to read the short stories. I found the characters grew a lot faster for me when I read those.

I swear I'm half in love with Mac.

[Justine]

I read a new release, . Not as dramatic as some of the earlier books in the series. And the hero is, um, perfect.

I think my next read will have to be some type of fantasy. Dark fantasy.

[Kat]

Just finished Daughter of Smoke and Bone and now starting Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire!

[Claire]

Just finished The Lady Most Willing...: A Novel in Three Parts in a couple of hours. Very fun read, had me laughing out loud in my empty apartment several times!! I've never read anything from these authors before and now I'm thinking I'll have to seek them out!

[Justine]

Claire wrote: "Just finished The Lady Most Willing...: A Novel in Three Parts in a couple of hours. Very fun read, had me laughing out loud in my empty apartment several times!! I've never read anything from thes..."

Julia Quinn always makes me laugh out loud! I look forward to her new books every year.

[Krystle ~A Booknatic~]

Gotta love the BDB !;)

[Vicky]

It took me over a month, but I finally finished Pride and Prejudice.

I've also recently read Undercover. It was the first book I've read that I would really classify as erotica over romance and it was just terrible. It was about 50 pages of story and 300 of sex, slutty clothes or telling you something you already knew but saying it in a slightly different way. Bleh.

And I finally got back into the Desperate Duchesses series and flew through An Affair Before Christmas and Duchess By Night in only a few days. I didn't like either of them as much as I liked Desperate Duchesses, but they were still fun!

[Dee]

I've just started the first book from the Star Wars Thrawn trilogy...needed to break up my smut and fantasy with a little sci-fi! :)

Afterwards I really want to get into Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicle ...and some more vaginal fantasy too...

[Justine]

Vicky wrote: "It took me over a month, but I finally finished Pride and Prejudice. ..."

Yay! I recently reread this classic - I was inspired by the Lizzie Bennet Diaries. I got the audiobook version and worked my way through it as I worked out :)

[Rosanna]

After I finished Daughter of Smoke & Bonefor this month's hangout I resumed reading A Clash of Kings which I hope to finish before the end of the month (when the new season of the TV series begins).

I'm still deciding what I'll read next after that. Depends on what our book is for next month and whether or not I can get it at the library. If not next month's book then maybe Days of Blood & Starlight or I'll go back and catch up on Kushiel's Dart or Soulless, both of which I missed. Or I may switch it up and read some Star Wars or other sci-fi book I haven't gotten to yet.

[Jennifer]

I just finished reading The Beauty of Surrender which I thoroughly enjoyed. Hot! Verrrrry Hot! :)

And now for something totally different I will probably be starting Outlander soon.

[Marjorie]

Just finished Not Your Ordinary Faerie Tale by Christine Warren. More Romanic than investigation but still good.

Starting Pleasure Unbound.

[Valerie]

Just finished , which was AWESOME!

Now reading .

Dee, I really enjoyed The Name of the Wind. Looking forward to book 2.

[nimrodiel]

I am currently reading The Shapechanger's Wife by Sharon Shinn

I had forgotten how much I love this author.

[Jennifer]

I am totally hooked on the Jolie Wilkins Novels. Love the way HP Mallory blends humor and romance together. Looking forward to reading all her books. Check out Fires Burn and Cauldron Bubble, it is a quick read for free on Kindle, and see if you aren't hooked too.

http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Burn-Cauld...

[Vicky]

More VF Series Catching-Up! I recently read Blameless and Heartless, I'm just waiting for my next audible credit to get to read Timeless, but I'm not sure I'll make it and I might give in and buy it, lol!

I'm also reading Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches' Guide to Romance Novels. I'm reading it on the side so I haven't gotten far, but it's quite funny and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of it.

[Marjorie]

I just started Blameless. Think after I will read Coraline and whatever the April pick is.

[Justine]

I just finished Wild Invitation - a new Psy/Changeling anthology. I loved both of the stories about the healers! The other two stories had their moments, too.