Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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What Are you Reading?
I'm trying to work my way through Barrel Proof but it's tough going. I liked the first two in the series, but this one just feels like more of the same. The bad guy just keeps winning and winning and the good guys never catch a break and I just feel like I'm caught in an endless spiral of Die Hard action that never ends.
Mod
Pretty much the same thing happened to me. I was sad.
From my book notes: "I was looking forward to book 3 in this series, then it took me a month to sit down and read through it. I wonder if the first two books were like this, but I only noticed now... Maybe because the family connections became more prominent in this episode? The lovemaking scenes and declarations of love and 'partners forever' were borderline purple prose."
Karen wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "I'm trying to work my way through Barrel Proof but it's tough going. I liked the first two in the series, but this one just feels like more of the same. The bad guy ..."It's funny because when I was filling out my progress here, I guessed that I was about 70% of the way through it, then when I went back to the actual book, it turns out I'm only at about 50%. *facepalm*
And I agree that maybe the first two were like this too, but able to hold the attention better and more interesting because we learned about the MCs' history and their pasts in them? This last one is just one never-ending crisis.
Mod
Hm. I started the first book and never finished.
Josh wrote: "Hm. I started the first book and never finished..."I think before this one, I picked up a couple of real clunkers and didn't get past the first few pages, so Barrel Proof having semi-decent writing hooked me despite being a bit unbelievable-- (view spoiler) and the series just kept slowly getting more purpley and harder to suspend disbelief, so now I'm having a difficult time finishing it.
Or maybe I just missed Elliot and Tucker a lot and needed an FBI fix. ;)
Read Trick Roller, gay mystery (with m/m romance subplot), book 2 in the series. Very good! There are a couple of cases the detectives are working on in each book, but there's a mystery arc that continues through the books, so for finding out how that progresses will have to wait until June...
Mod
I think before this one, I picked up a couple of real clunkers and didn't get past the first few pages, so [book:Barrel Proof|34473..."
Kirsten wrote: "Josh wrote: "Hm. I started the first book and never finished..."
I think before this one, I picked up a couple of real clunkers and didn't get past the first few pages, so [book:Barrel Proof|34473..."
I do love a good FBI mystery-romance! Always on the hunt for those. ;-)
Mod
I think before this one, I picked up a couple of real clunkers and didn't get past the first few pages, so [book:Ba..."
I grew up watching TV shows where the FBI were always seen as the bad guys. They came in and took over a case, and all the LEOs were pissed at them, and they were not nice guys either.
So, it's always nice to see FBI guys be the good guys on occasion. :-)
Unfit to Print
is up for preorder:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CMGL8DH?t...
http://www.amazon.de/dp/B07CMGL8DH?ta...
and so on
Antonella wrote: "Unfit to Print is up for preorder:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CMGL8DH?t...
http://www.amazon.de/dp/B07CMGL8DH?ta...
an..."
I pre-ordered the hell out of that one today. Looking forward to it! :)
TWO new KJ Charles books in the next three months! My stars, we are so spoiled.
Just finished the next Tyack and Frayne book 9 by Harper Fox. Liked it!
Street People by Michael Nava was just wonderful, like back to reading the Henry Rios series. Every word counted, and it was moving, but not sappy. Warning: no romance around. Still, very satisfying.
Mod
Josh, if you haven't already, you might check out Barbra's post on "Ebook freebies," and our responses.
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message 8689: by Barbra 10 hours, 41 min ago
Melissa wrote: "All's Fair Complete Collection: Fair Game\Fair Play\Fair Chance by Josh Lanyon is currently on SALE for $1.99 on Amazon US (not sure about other locations).
https://..."
At the bottom of the description for the All's Fair collection on Amazon it says...
"Also includes Single Malt, book one in Layla Reyne’s Agent Irish & Whiskey series!"
I want thank whoever it was who brought attention to Cordelia Kingsbridge. I've finished binge reading her three books and I can't wait for her next one. I totally recommend her books, I only wish she's written more.
Mod
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Cordelia Kingsbridge writes really really well. Adding my thanks for this discovery. The mysteries are awesome.
Reading atm Eli Easton’s Robby Riverton. Enjoying it so far.
I love Cordelia's work...she used to have several WIPs online but took most down as she began to be serious about publishing.
Reading Lisa Henry's The California Dashwoods.....an m/m modern rewrite of Sense and Sensibility. Couple of chapters in...loving it...will report back further along.
Mod
It might have been me...? In any case, glad to hear you liked her books. I, too, binge read her first two Seven of Spades books and I’m eagerly waiting for #3 to come out this summer.
Cat Sebastian's latest historical, Unmasked by the Marquess, is amazing! It's one of the most queer-affirming, queer-validating, just plain queerest books I've ever read. Not only does it feature a bi marquess who totally accepts his bi-ness, but, But! it also has a fantastic non-binary main character who's awesome and authentic and is loved exactly as they are! Their romance is very cool no matter what, but I think it's even more extraordinary because it's published by Avon (Harper Collins). How cool is it that a mainstream romance mega-publisher has put out an unconventional and super queer historical romance with main characters who are bi and non-binary?! It blows me away and it means so much. Plus, it's an awesome book as well, because it's by Cat Sebastian. It's powerful stuff and I'm buying this in print so I can have it on the shelf. If you ever wanted to read a super queer Regency romance, here's one that's absolutely worthy of throwing some money at. Plus, a Publisher's Weekly starred review: https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-...
As a non-binary person, I think it's worth saying that I think the author got it absolutely right. This is only the second book I've ever read where the non-binary identity felt authentic and felt like something I could actually relate to personally (the other book is KJ Charles' An Unsuitable Heir). Sebastian really impressed me with this character and this book and this love story. It's extraordinarily special. :)
I think I first heard about this series on this thread: The Novels of Astreiant series....looks like there is a new one out last month. No heat, magic and rennaissance quality of life, mm mystery with background romance.
WMD wrote: "I think I first heard about this series on this thread: The Novels of Astreiant series....looks like there is a new one out last month. No heat, magic and rennaissance quality of life, mm mystery w..."Yes! There's a new one out after many years. It's an excellent series.
Mod
Jordan wrote: "Oooh, I’ll look into this! Though, honestly, that cover... doesn’t do much for me."No, it's not a great cover, but then Avon historicals, imo, rarely have good covers. :P
Jordan wrote: "Oooh, I’ll look into this! Though, honestly, that cover... doesn’t do much for me."I must admit I'm struggling a bit with the first novel Point of Hopes. If there's a romance, it's very much in the background; I'm halfway through, and so far, Rathe has noticed that Eslingen is sort of cute.
Plus, just about everything is a GD "point." The word is used to describe a job, a Title, places, lawsuits, criminal charges, criminal convictions, you name it. It's driving me nuts! Oh well, maybe I've gotten too old for this kind of fantasy (although I did enjoy Eressë's Chronicles of Ylandre).
Mod
I must admit I'm struggling a bit with the first novel Point of Hopes. If there's..."
Interesting.
I couldn't get through Chronicles of Ylandre, and everything about it said I'd enjoy it a lot.
Sam wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Oooh, I’ll look into this! Though, honestly, that cover... doesn’t do much for me."I must admit I'm struggling a bit with the first novel Point of Hopes. If there's..."
Hi, there, Sam! I had the same kind of problems, especially with the first book: a bit of info dumping, and descriptions which could have been avoided. It was 3.5 stars = 3. The next three books were better.
IMO it is a very good fantasy series, but not excellent (like Ginn Hale's works for ex.). Of course I'm going to buy the new one.
Sam wrote: "I must admit I'm struggling a bit with the first novel Point of Hopes. If there's a romance, it's very much in the background; I'm halfway through, and so far, Rathe has noticed that Eslingen is sort of cute."Hey Sam, perhaps it's helpful if I say that Astreiant is not a romance series and the romance remains very much in the background. Their love story is extremely subtle and barely there and mostly exists in subtext over four books, so set your expectations accordingly. :) That said, I find their relationship to be extraordinarily delightful in the tiny snippets we do see. They're completely adorable. :) But yeah, this is not really a series to read for the romance because there's very little on page, even though what little is there is quite satisfying.
Read:- NR Walker's On Davis Row, a lovely, quiet story.
- Eli Easton's Robby Riverton: Mail Order Bride, which was wonderful fun.
In the what-I'll-be-reading-in-the-future category--there is to be a coda for His Quiet Agent! That's exactly what I wanted for that lovely story. :)
Mymymble wrote: "Alison wrote: "In the what-I'll-be-reading-in-the-future category--there is to be a coda for His Quiet Agent! That's exactly what I wanted for that lovely story. :)"Yay! I love that book..."
Yay indeed! I know lots of us love that book, so I thought I'd share the news. :)
Mod
YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alison wrote: "In the what-I'll-be-reading-in-the-future category--there is to be a coda for His Quiet Agent! That's exactly what I wanted for that lovely story. :)"Yippee! ....being that everyone else said "yay"
I've read two cute dragon stories lately--Smoke Signals by Meredith Katz and Contemporary Draconic Hoarding Practices by Dae Richards. Both are cute and entertaining and both are nicely written.
Mod
Yes, I saw that. Carina clearly has great hopes for her.
I am reading ZA Maxfield's latest, Plummet To Soar which has one of the oddest characters I have come across so far. Kenzie reminds me of Zonker Harris from Doonsbury. In a good way.
20% into it, I thought I would pause and recommend Riding with Brighton by Haven Francis. Coming of age High School story (so far) I highlighted and chortled at many things in the opening chapters. First person, alternating between MCs, which I always like best when we get snark, feels and self analysis.
And I love the cover...time to change up the cover art in the mm genre, 90% look identically uninteresting lately.
I just finished Point of Hopes. It's not necessarily a problem that there wasn't much romance, it's that there wasn't much action either. It (the action, not the romance) did pick up a bit in the final third of the book, I guess. I loved reading the community reviews, though. My favorite [Julio Genao]:
if you like your gumshoe detective stories romance-free, long as hell, and with a minumum of explosions, murder, or action that isn't a conversation over a kidney pie...
well then, this is your book.
I think I'll probably finish the series, eventually, but it's not "drop every TBR until I've read everything available by this author first" good, like Josh Lanyon; or even "read everything available by this author as soon as I can check it out of the library" good, like Eressë or C.S. Poe (or, initially, Meg Perry, but ater the fourth I decided just to buy the rest of the series).
Now I'm way behind on my library books: Kill Game and Single Malt are next up.
Finished Riding with Brighton. Still a definite recommend, although the first chapters were the best imho, the rest is satisfactory. The story is very much in the vein of of Simon vs. HSA. Very intelligent/self aware and articulate teens over one epiphany of a weekend. Unlike Simon, some detailed sexual interactions occur in Riding with Brighton, which means this book misses its calling as a YA.I might be a bit worried about books so thoroughly denouncing the staying in the closet...that you are a liar and miserable, heading for a breakdown, and...I don't know...basically inhuman or un-American if you don't out yourself, regardless of risk. These books represent one point of view that will be powerfully valuable to many. However, surely professionals involved with working with LGBTQ youth would talk about safety plans and risk assessment as part of the process-not advocating for all to out themselves regardless. (Or, in Simon's case, being outed by others is good for you in the long run). Given homeless and suicide rates for these youth, I worry this zeitgeist in book and film is pressure to be a certain way. Maybe this comes from the knowledge that as a teen I never would have been as together as Simon or Jay in Riding with Brighton, and able to build and utilize new friendship networks, have insight into my feelings, actually seek out and incorporate the sage advice of wise elders, face down the less wise elders, or rise above homophobic jack-assery of former friends. I wish these books had some thoughtful messages for those youth in communities and families where it would not be safe or those who aren't as internally strong...they aren't doomed and broken, they can choose their time, things will get better. I think of Domashito Romero's story East as an example with this point of view (though also not YA). Sorry, this thought has been percolating for awhile...I always twitch a little when people tout a one size fits all judgment.
Mod
I think you've got a very valid point. Even if I'd known about myself when I was in high school, there was no way I would say anything to anyone, except my best friend. My classmates wouldn't have let it slide easily. There would have been teasing. Bullying, which I'd already had to go through between 4-6th grade for various reasons. I was not popular. High school was easier, only because people left me alone for the most part. I read my books, wrote my fan fiction, and that was that. :-) Though this is also probably why I didn't realize I was different more than just being an extremely shy introvert. lol.
Mod
I loved this when I read it last summer, but also also with some niggles. I definitely can see your point.
My short "review": https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thanks to all of you who recommended Cat Sebastian's books and/or pointed out sales of them. I actually went into The Ruin of a Rake not in the mood for a historical, so I sort of skimmed the first 50 pages or so (to quickly get it off my TBR), then slowed at some good scenes. Then there were some more good scenes. Then, dammit, I had to start back at the beginning. LOL. There are even sex scenes that are not boring! When I finished, I STILL wasn't in the mood for a historical, but It Takes Two to Tumble was sitting RIGHT THERE on my reader, and it looked like it might be a funny re-telling of The Sound of Music, so I started it. Okay, it's not nearly as amusing as the blurb makes you think, but I still really enjoyed it, enough that I immediately bought two more of her books.
But I'm reading Kim Fielding's The Little Library right now ... because I'm not in the mood for a historical.
Who knows what will be next? :-)
I'm kinda in the mood now for Crime stories so I started reading Gregory Ashe's Pretty Pretty Boys. I'm quite sure how I feel about it. I both like it and dislike it but it kept me interested enough that I've bought the second book of the series.
I have to thank Rachel twice: she made me discover Private Members
which I really loved. I'm going to read this author's backlist.And one year ago, also thanks to Rachel, I discovered two free fics by Dr. Noh: the delightful Sleeping and Songs You Know by Heart.
Today I reread them because I didn't feel like working. I realised that this author went on writing as Eleanor Kos, which means I've got another backlist to check ;-).
Marge wrote: "Thanks to all of you who recommended Cat Sebastian's books and/or pointed out sales of them. I actually went into The Ruin of a Rake not in the mood for a historical, so I sort of s..."Yay! Cat Sebastian's books are wonderful. I'm glad you are enjoying them , Marge. There's a new one coming soon. :)
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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1940s classic mystery. I don't think I've read anything by Fields' before. I'm enjoying it very much--she's quite good, that kind of effortless competency we see in the majority of female-produced mystery of the era.
I couldn't help thinking that hers is the fate of pretty much all good writers. You will be completely--or nearly completely forgotten (not counting scholars and academics)-- past your own era.
And if it was true then, how much more true is it now in the days of conveyor-belt fiction production?
I don't find this depressing or discouraging. It's simply the truth. We are writing in the moment for the audience of the moment. I think it is a healthy reminder not to get overly caught up in...well, any of it.