What Are you Reading? Showing 1,301-1,350 of 16,523

[Karen]

Susinok wrote: "But I just got Josh's In Plain Sight, and managed to find a JL Merrow AND Josesphine Myles novella I don't already have. SCORE on all three counts! :) "

Which JL Merrow? I think I have them all, but I thought that about Myles and just snagged two shorts I'd missed thanks to heads-ups from Hambel and Antonella on EBook freebies. Also bought my e-copy of In Plain Sight. :-D

Speaking of Merrow and Myles, I read and really enjoyed last week, an anthology that also includes Lou Harper and two other authors, all good stories. So I picked up by the same group.

[Susinok]

Karen wrote: "Susinok wrote: "But I just got Josh's In Plain Sight, and managed to find a JL Merrow AND Josesphine Myles novella I don't already have. SCORE on all three counts! :) "

Which JL Merrow? I think I ..."

A short story called Dead Shot.

[Josh]

Reggie wrote: "Hey all, Catherine Coulter is teaming up with J. T. Ellison in a Sept release, The Final Cut (A Brit in the FBI).
"the first book in a brilliant new international thriller series featuring the new ..."

Do not mention this!!!! This is such a freaking sore spot.

[Josh]

Khaoula wrote: "Josh wrote: "Khaoula wrote: "Josh wrote: "Khaoula wrote: "hi (am new here :p ) i am reading several books these days
Like Coffee and Doughnuts , by Elle Parker
The Hell You Say , by Josh Lanyon
Ga..."

Yes, against his better judgment, Adrien was indeed hoping to hear from Jake.

[Khaoula]

Josh wrote: "Khaoula wrote: "Josh wrote: "Khaoula wrote: "Josh wrote: "Khaoula wrote: "hi (am new here :p ) i am reading several books these days
Like Coffee and Doughnuts , by Elle Parker
The Hell You Say , b..."

oh! that is sad :( , euh thank you Josh.

[HJ]

I can't see a discussion board for In Plain Sight so I'm posting here. I've just read it, and I really enjoyed it! (view spoiler)[I was urging Nash to go and check the lake... (hide spoiler)]

I'm glad you released it as an ebook, Josh, because I didn't buy the print collection of short stories but I wanted to read this one.

[Johanna]

Hj wrote: "I can't see a discussion board for In Plain Sight so I'm posting here. I've just read it, and I really enjoyed it! [spoilers removed]

I'm glad you released it as an ebook, Josh, because I didn'..."

The discussion thread for In Plain Sight is here. It's underneath/in the Story Discussions folder, but on our group's homepage you can only see 7 out of 34 topics of the Story Discussions. Those are the ones that have had posts recently. If you click the small text: Showing 7 of 34 topics beside the Story Discussions title, you can see all the 34 Story Discussion topics.

Wow. There really is 34 of them. Josh has been a busy man. :-)

[HJ]

Johanna wrote: "Hj wrote: "I can't see a discussion board for In Plain Sight so I'm posting here. I've just read it, and I really enjoyed it! [spoilers removed]

I'm glad you released it as an ebook, Josh, beca..."

Thanks Johanna! I'll go and post there. I thought it was odd that I couldn't find it, because I know how conscientious you mods are!

[Johanna]

Hj wrote: "Thanks Johanna!"

You are welcome. :-)

Hj wrote: "I thought it was odd that I couldn't find it, because I know how conscientious you mods are!"

Don't know about the conscientious though... ;-)

[Josh]

Read which I enjoyed very much. If you like Nicole Kimberling's Bellingham mysteries, you'll like this. There are a lot of similarities, although it's also very different.

And I started ZA Maxfield's A Cowboy's Heart. Also enjoyable.

[K.Z.]

Josh wrote: "Reggie wrote: "Hey all, Catherine Coulter is teaming up with J. T. Ellison in a Sept release, The Final Cut (A Brit in the FBI).
"the first book in a brilliant new international thriller series fea..."

Why is the spot sore, Josh? (I'm not familiar with either of these authors.)

[Carlita]

I'm reading A Cowboy's Heart and really enjoying it.

[HJ]

K.Z. wrote: "Why is the spot sore, Josh? (I'm not familiar with either of these authors.) ..."

I couldn't remember either, and so I searched "Coulter" in the search box (top right corner of this page). Just go down a few results and you'll see why!

[KC]

Carlita wrote: "I'm reading A Cowboy's Heart and really enjoying it."

A Cowboy's Heart is next on my list, after i finish Marie Sexton's Promises.

[KC]

I'm looking for something that is sort of similar to either Astrid's holiday romances, or Nicole's Bellingham mysteries. Something with a sense of humor, generally fun, and with a good plot (preferably mystery).
Do you guys have any recommendations? :-)

[K.Z.]

Hj wrote: "K.Z. wrote: "Why is the spot sore, Josh? (I'm not familiar with either of these authors.) ..."

I couldn't remember either, and so I searched "Coulter" in the search box (top right corner of this p..."

Oh, I'd forgotten that discussion. But take heart! The upcoming series is supposed to be "brilliant." :)

[HJ]

K.Z. wrote: "Oh, I'd forgotten that discussion. But take heart! The upcoming series is supposed to be "brilliant." :) ..."

Sez who??

[Ame]

I love Marie Sexton's Coda series. I have been rereading them and I really like how different the couples are and their stories and I think that is why I can't choose a favorite. Fantastic stories and not all sex.



Not that I don't like sex only I like it a lot more when it comes with good storyline and engaging characters ;)

[Ame]

And now I'm reading Private Eye and it starts really good, the inner monologue of the main characters is hilariously funny.

[Josh]

K.Z. wrote: "Josh wrote: "Reggie wrote: "Hey all, Catherine Coulter is teaming up with J. T. Ellison in a Sept release, The Final Cut (A Brit in the FBI).
"the first book in a brilliant new international thrill..."

Just that collaboration is SO hard.

[Josh]

KC wrote: "I'm looking for something that is sort of similar to either Astrid's holiday romances, or Nicole's Bellingham mysteries. Something with a sense of humor, generally fun, and with a good plot (prefer..."

You're going to love Demolished!

[KC]

Josh wrote: "KC wrote: "I'm looking for something that is sort of similar to either Astrid's holiday romances, or Nicole's Bellingham mysteries. Something with a sense of humor, generally fun, and with a good p..."

I did! Demolished was great!

So something not by Astrid or Nicole since i have all those :-)

[KC]

Josh wrote: "K.Z. wrote: "Josh wrote: "Reggie wrote: "Hey all, Catherine Coulter is teaming up with J. T. Ellison in a Sept release, The Final Cut (A Brit in the FBI).
"the first book in a brilliant new interna..."

I sense sarcasm...(?!)

[Josh]

KC wrote: "Josh wrote: "KC wrote: "I'm looking for something that is sort of similar to either Astrid's holiday romances, or Nicole's Bellingham mysteries. Something with a sense of humor, generally fun, and ..."

Oh! I need to pay closer attention.

[KC]

Josh wrote: "KC wrote: "Josh wrote: "KC wrote: "I'm looking for something that is sort of similar to either Astrid's holiday romances, or Nicole's Bellingham mysteries. Something with a sense of humor, generall..."

I should've specified better :-)

[Ije the Devourer of Books]

I just finished reading i really loved it. It has a very British feel to it which some people might not appreciate with lots of slang (Essex speak). Essex is just outside London and one of the main characters in the book is from there and so the author really emphasised this. I took part in a big buddy read too which was fun. Although the book was really funny, one of the main characters has bi-polar and really struggles with depression. This didn't overwhelm the story though. The author had an excellent way of bringing this out, showing how it affected the main character and his decisions. It was a sensitive depiction of someone living with a mental illness but very realistic too. I thought it was excellent. Well worth reading if you like British books and you can cope with the Essex speak.

[Susinok]

Ije the TweetAway Queen wrote: "I just finished reading i really loved it. It has a very British feel to it which some people might not appreciate with lots of slang (Essex speak). Essex is just o..."

I am halfway through this right now and love it so far. I've read a bunch of British books all in a row. Some Harper Fox, JL Merrow, Josephine Myles, and now this one all in a few days time.

Lovely!

[Josh]

Susinok wrote: "Ije the TweetAway Queen wrote: "I just finished reading i really loved it. It has a very British feel to it which some people might not appreciate with lots of slan..."

Yes, it looks interesting!

[Susinok]

I finished Glitterland and really loved it. Darian was a very unusual hero but I loved him to pieces.

[Karen]

I also really enjoyed Demolished. I enjoy the books set in the Bellingham area. I've been there twice, driving up with each daughter to look at the university, a four-year gap between. One daughter ended up at a school in Tacoma and the other stayed here in New Mexico, but their friend (whose family are our good friends/neighbors) graduated from WWU. She was our tour guide on the second trip. So when Astrid or Nicole's books take me there I have memories of the campus from our visits. Another high desert dweller lured by the ocean. : )

[Johanna]

Ije the TweetAway Queen wrote: "I just finished reading i really loved it. It has a very British feel to it which some people might not appreciate with lots of slang (Essex speak). Essex is just o..."

Thank you for this recommendation, Ije and Susinok!

[Susinok]

I'm just in favorite author heaven right now. Read In Plain Sight yesterday, reading The Haunted Heart: Winter today. Tomorrow Junk comes out by Josephine Myles.

Just read Myles, Merrow, and Harper Fox a few days ago. An embarrassment of riches!

[KC]

Susinok wrote: "I'm just in favorite author heaven right now. Read In Plain Sight yesterday, reading The Haunted Heart: Winter today. Tomorrow Junk comes out by Josephine Myles.

Just read Myles, Merrow, and Harp..."

:-)

[Johanna]

I also just finished Glitterland. Darian`s accent was cringe worthy and priceless. A huge standout for me.

[Josh]

I'm still reading ZAM's I'd like to see this do well for her.

[Johanna]

I totally missed the ZAM. I must go buy it now.

[Antonella]

Johanna wrote: "I also just finished Glitterland. Darian`s accent was cringe worthy and priceless. A huge standout for me."

I read the excerpt and I can't stand that accent, sorry! NB: it's not that I don't understand it, it's just screeching.

[Josh]

Antonella wrote: "Johanna wrote: "I also just finished Glitterland. Darian`s accent was cringe worthy and priceless. A huge standout for me."

I read the excerpt and I can't stand that accent, sorry! NB: it's not..."

That accent keeps coming up in reviews and comments. Interesting.

The thing about accents: a little bit goes a long way.

You do not want to sound like Huck Finn and Jim sailing down the Mississippi.

Or Huck Finn and Jim sailing down the Thames. ;-D

[Marge]

I just finished it, and think it's a great story. I think the book is an excellent example of m/m romance, and hope ZAM exposes a wider audience to the genre. From reading some of the reviews here, it appears this is a first time for several of the readers. And they loved it!

[Josh]

Marge wrote: "I just finished it, and think it's a great story. I think the book is an excellent example of m/m romance, and hope ZAM exposes a wider audience to the genre. From reading some of the reviews here,..."

Excellent!

[Johanna]

that's the challenge, can you be brought to like ... an h`dropping glottal-stopping glitter pirate… it reminds me of Eliza Doolittle, and yes I covered my ears when she spoke. Darian is certainly not audible leading man material at first look but he grows on you.

[Antonella]

Josh wrote: "I'm still reading ZAM's I'd like to see this do well for her."

Lovely excerpt here:
http://zamaxfield.com/books/my-cowboy...

[Susinok]

Finished The Haunted Heart: Winter. Excellent!

Now on to Junk. I am relieved to say my house is not as bad as Jaspers. Whew!

[Josh]

Johanna wrote: "that's the challenge, can you be brought to like ... an h`dropping glottal-stopping glitter pirate… it reminds me of Eliza Doolittle, and yes I covered my ears when she spoke. Darian is certainly ..."

:-D It's on my To Buy list, glottal stops and all. It sounds like my kind of thing.

[HJ]

Josh wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Johanna wrote: "I also just finished Glitterland. Darian`s accent was cringe worthy and priceless. A huge standout for me."

I read the excerpt and I can't stand that accent, s..."

I find it very difficult to read a book which persists in spelling out an accent or dialect. I prefer it if the way of speaking is made clear for a while and then the author reverts to writing dialogue normally on the assumption that readers know how the character speaks.

I suspect that Alexis Hall might say that she persisted with it because Ash continues to be hyper-aware of Darian's accent, to the extent that he finds it difficult to really hear what Darian is saying. I can understand that point, but it's still irritating.

For me, the biggest stumbling block is Ash's descriptions of how he's feeling, and his fear of falling into depression again. Not because it it isn't written well enough: on the contrary, it's too convincing for me! So I'm struggling with the book on two fronts, but persisting because there's gold under the glitter (I think!).

[Anne]

Hj wrote: "Josh wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Johanna wrote: "I also just finished Glitterland. Darian`s accent was cringe worthy and priceless. A huge standout for me."

I read the excerpt and I can't stand t..."

I started it yesterday, and don't find the dialect irritating, more cute like :) He reminds me of the way my daughters's English boyfriend speaks (wiw for with, fink for think etc) and he has this very nice voice, so I keep hearing that.

And I believe the point of accenuating the accent is to drive home how different the two men are, from very different parts of life and also that Ash is so alert to it. It works very well in that dimension.

And I can relate to his fear of relapsing back into depression. It makes a very convincing story, but maybe not just an amusing one. But it definitely have some very amusing moment. And Darian certainly grows on you :)

[Sandra]

I'm reading it and also don't mind the accent. I think it's beautifully and sensitively written. I work in psychology as a psychotherapist and it's so seldom writers get it right with mental illness.

[K.Z.]

Not sure if this cover makes me want to read the book or run from it:

[ttg]

K.Z. wrote: "Not sure if this cover makes me want to read the book or run from it: "

Oh, K.Z. I actually hated that book. Sometime around 2005 I wrote one of my few 1-star reviews on Amazon. I'll put it behind a spoiler tag.

(view spoiler)[This is the first book I've read by Palahniuk. I was about to go on vacation, and I saw this book, and thought the premise sounded really interesting. I like writing, and think writing retreats are full of funny/horrible scenarios, and man, would I relish a good poke at how crappy reality television is. This book was even signed by the author, so hey, bonus.

There are SPOILERS in this review. Be warned.

I'll tell you what will make you forget how beautiful Sanibel Island is- this very ugly book. It's not even the gore that got me. It's the horrific characters. No one is likeable, and I couldn't empathize with anyone. Maybe at the beginning of each short story, but by the end, like at the end of the one about the former child actor/vet and reporter, it's really difficult to even bother reading further.

The POV slides around from 3rd to first, with the word "us" to encompass the writers, but also to incorporate the reader in the circle. (Get it? You're also a part of the story, participating as a viewer, just like those who watch reality TV.) Themes and metaphors are hammered down. I understand that people are manufacturing their own destruction as they poke holes in their bags of freeze dried food, destroy lights, and try to call out for help, but in a whisper so no one will actually hear them. But it is repeated over and over in the ongoing larger story that binds the shorter ones together, and it gets really tiresome. I get it! People are idiots that will kill themselves for the thought of fame! People will go as far as to cut up other people's butts (because they think they're dead and luckily, they read/saw "Alive" and learned that the butts are the thing to eat) in order to survive and also in order to make their future tell-all book even grimmer. Only to their horror do they realize that the person wasn't dead, and the ultimate irony of that the not-dead person comes down, and comments on whatever is in the microwave smells really good. (This part was so over-the-top, I did laugh.)

A couple of the stories I did like, like Miss America's and her way of manipulating the system to get on TV, but overall, that every character completely lacked scruples, and the way the overall story and the shorter stories would hammer in their themes or metaphors- the "reverse" molestation and humiliation of a man by women, the "rape" of child sex dolls by police officers, the repeated sabotage of the living environment by all the writers, made me put down the book after each chapter, look out to the beautiful mangroves or beaches of the island, and be overwhelmed by not only how ugly the book is, but also how unbelievable.

Guts, for instance- It wasn't the gore that got me. This story was really easy to follow throughout. It was the last line that threw me out of the story. It was there to shock and be funny, but it took something that was horrific yet believable (because it has really happened before), and threw in an urban myth for a punch line. What a cheap way to end an otherwise engaging and funny (yet gross) story.

I stopped reading with one quarter of the book left because I found that reading A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time was a better way to spend my evenings. Over a month has passed, and I have no desire to go back to it, not even for closure. I just don't care to go down and find out what happened, or rather since the ending was revealed in the beginning, I have no desire to find out how it happened.

I'm going to take my signed copy and bring it to a used book store. I'm sorry I paid full price for it, and I'm sorry I brought it on vacation with me. I know his other works are recommended, but I have no desire to check them out now after having read (most) of this ugly book.

I hope some crazed chef/author doesn't come after me now...

(Add--That last line is a reference to one of the stories about a chef who murders his food reviewers. It felt very much like the author addressing reviewers as well. (hide spoiler)]

I don't think I'm a fan of that author, but if other people liked the book, feel free to shout-out.

[Reggie]

I finished . Something about the story didn't sit well. I own one more in the series, so I will try again.
I am currently in the middle of The Little Death. I am probably going to put this one on hold and read The Haunted Heart: Winter.
=D