Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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What Are you Reading?
I am reading the steampunk anthology Steamed Up from DSP, and so far, it's going well. (Anthologies can be so mixed sometimes and frustrating.) But so far, have read 3 stories, and 2 were very good. (For one, I just wish it had more plot.) Am hopeful for the rest. It's a fun theme.
ttg wrote: "Lou wrote: "Now I have another request: Girl, 15, likes romantic stuff, Shake..."
"Also Libba Bray who wrote A Great and Terrible Beauty."
I thought of A Great and Terrible Beauty also. It's the first book in a trilogy. A (then-teenaged) niece read it along with me. Set in a Victorian boarding school and a dangerous fantasy world. A sad, but not gratuitously sad, ending.
Also Philip Pullman's murder mystery, gothic-romance quartet, the Sally Lockhart series, starting with The Ruby in the Smoke.
Appreciation of the Pullman books is enhanced by having some acquaintance (not required) with traditional gothics like Jane Eyre and Rebecca.
"Also Libba Bray who wrote A Great and Terrible Beauty."
I thought of A Great and Terrible Beauty also. It's the first book in a trilogy. A (then-teenaged) niece read it along with me. Set in a Victorian boarding school and a dangerous fantasy world. A sad, but not gratuitously sad, ending.
Also Philip Pullman's murder mystery, gothic-romance quartet, the Sally Lockhart series, starting with The Ruby in the Smoke.
Appreciation of the Pullman books is enhanced by having some acquaintance (not required) with traditional gothics like Jane Eyre and Rebecca.
Lou wrote: "Thanks for the recommendations, ttg and Jax. I ordered City of Thieves on Amazon, and also Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman.Now I have another request: Girl, 15, likes romantic stuff, Shakespeare, Jane..."
Lou, I have two teen girls myself, and have actually been friended by a sweet 14-yr-old here on GR who writes some pretty decent YA reviews on her blog, if it will give you any good ideas? http://ya411.blogspot.com
My girls both vary..one likes paranormal, and the other likes contemporary..so depends on the girl :) I think they both liked Ally Carter's Heist Society series...
Lou, if she likes dystopian stuff Matched by Ally Condie is the first of a romantic trilogy. And Delirium by Lauren Oliver is the first in another romantic series.
Susinok wrote: "I am re-reading Holiday Outing by Astrid Amara. Still hilarious.I read Home and Heart by Chris Quinton.
Holiday stories both of them. Much better use of my time than battleshopping...."
Battleshopping! :) What a great term. I love it! I spent yesterday reading
Dead Run, so I am, at long last, caught up with Will and Taylor. Yay!
Susinok wrote: "Right now I'm battling a book set in present tense. WTF! I think it's going to be put aside soon as a DNF, though. I can barely take it. ..."This is a serious no-no for me. Why do people do it? To me it seems pretentious and unnecessary to write in the present tense. When I try to read it, it's all I'm conscious of and I just cannot get into any other aspect of a book. There should be large and loud warnings!
Lou wrote: "I've read a few books that did the present tense so well, I barely noticed, but it's the exception."I'm interested to know which they were? - if you can remember, having barely noticed it!
Lou wrote: "Hj wrote: "I'm interested to know which they were? - if you can remember, having barely noticed it! "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and King Perry."
Thanks, Lou.
Lou wrote: "I started reading Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch last night. I love that sort of joyously bizarre humor."I love that book:)
Lou wrote: "Thanks for the recommendations, ttg and Jax. I ordered City of Thieves on Amazon, and also Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman.Now I have another request: Girl, 15, likes romantic stuff, Shakespeare, Jane..."
If she enjoys paranormal, Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers trilogy, starting with The Summoning, was good. It exists in the same universe as her Women of the Otherworld series, but with the violence and romantic elements at an age-appropriate level for YA.
I also really enjoyed Anna and the French Kiss. It's a contemporary YA romance about a girl who moves from the US to France and attends an international school. The romance was sweet.
If she likes Jane Austen, what about getting her started on some Georgette Heyer? It's been a while, but I remember particularly enjoying Venetia. I'd want to pre-read anything that's published as Regency now, but the old school, traditional Regencies kept the bedroom door firmly closed, if the couple went there at all before marriage.
Lou wrote: "I started reading Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch last night. I love that sort of joyously bizarre humor."One of my most favorite books ever!
Oh, Lou, check out Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. That's a really good and interesting romance for sure. With magic, of course, but not the traditional variety we normally see in books and movies. Plus, it's coming out as a movie next summer, I think.
Finished re-reading Breaking Point. What a comeback by N.R. Walker . Absolutely love her writing.Now reading Dangerous Ground AGAIN!! And if it's possible, I think I'm enjoying it even more than before :D
I finished The Apothecary's Garden by Julie Bozza this morning. I think it's the most romantic book I've ever read. Quietly understated and romantic and a slow burn romance. I loved it.She even referenced some of Mary Balogh's works in a place name (Lesser Bedwyn) and a person (Mrs. Carew). I can see the influence.
Susinok wrote: "I finished The Apothecary's Garden by Julie Bozza this morning. I think it's the most romantic book I've ever read. Quietly understated and romantic and a slow burn romance. I loved..."I just checked the blurb. Sounds good and has got really got reviews. Definitely gonna try it :D
Susinok wrote: "I finished The Apothecary's Garden by Julie Bozza this morning. I think it's the most romantic book I've ever read. Quietly understated and romantic and a slow burn romance. I loved..."It IS a lovely book, isn't it. I wasn't sure if the age difference would bother me, but the story was so well done.
Susinok wrote: "I finished The Apothecary's Garden by Julie Bozza this morning. I think it's the most romantic book I've ever read. Quietly understated and romantic and a slow burn romance. I loved..."
This is definitely something I want to read.
This is definitely something I want to read.
Susinok wrote: "I am reading I Don't: A Christmas Wish by Kari Gregg. It's fun so far. Crazy family!"I liked that one a lot :)
I just started The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle. It's a YA novel set in an Amish settlement when a vampire plague strikes the Outside world. So far, it's a slow read for a suspense novel, but still really good.
That title alone sounds really good. Too bad there doesn't seen to be an entry with blurb here on GR.
I finally bought more Nick Nowak mysteries yesterday. I loved the first one but haven't yet gotten around to the others.
I finally bought more Nick Nowak mysteries yesterday. I loved the first one but haven't yet gotten around to the others.
Over the past few weeks, a bundle of holiday "shorts," kicked off by The Dickens With Love, and winding over to Irregulars Christmas codas!
Let It Snow
Submissive Angel
Long the Mile
A Small Miracle Happened
Blame It On The Mistletoe
A Prairie Dog's Love Song
Bashert
In Another Life
Merry Gentlemen
Lost and Found
Currently reading Sweet and Sour
Let It Snow
Submissive Angel
Long the Mile
A Small Miracle Happened
Blame It On The Mistletoe
A Prairie Dog's Love Song
Bashert
In Another Life
Merry Gentlemen
Lost and Found
Currently reading Sweet and Sour
Jordan wrote: "I just started The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle. It's a YA novel set in an Amish settlement when a vampire plague strikes the Outside world. So far, it's a slow read for a suspense novel, but stil..."That is possibly the strangest blurb I've ever heard. An Amish settlement and a vampire plague?
Lady*M wrote: "I'm rereading Mel Kegan's NARC series. Gay space opera... oh, my! ^^"
I loved those. Damn! I just remembered. I loaned out my originals and never got them back. :-(
I loved those. Damn! I just remembered. I loaned out my originals and never got them back. :-(
Becky wrote: "Jordan wrote: "I just started The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle. It's a YA novel set in an Amish settlement when a vampire plague strikes the Outside world. So far, it's a slow read for a suspense ..."
:-D :-D :-D
:-D :-D :-D
It is odd. That's why I bought it for the library. That and the fact that my coworker reads a lot of Amish fiction/romance, which apparently is a thing. I never would have guessed.
And our book group of one teen said she wanted to read it. It's good. I started it the day before yesterday, I think. I should finish it today.
Lol, having two days off in the middle of the week is a huge help with all of these BOMs and book challenges I'm doing that have to be read this week. Tomorrow I can read another Brandstetter and get myself caught up there. Woot!
And our book group of one teen said she wanted to read it. It's good. I started it the day before yesterday, I think. I should finish it today.
Lol, having two days off in the middle of the week is a huge help with all of these BOMs and book challenges I'm doing that have to be read this week. Tomorrow I can read another Brandstetter and get myself caught up there. Woot!
Jordan wrote: "It is odd. That's why I bought it for the library. That and the fact that my coworker reads a lot of Amish fiction/romance, which apparently is a thing. I never would have guessed. And our book g..."
Amish romance is HUGE. I don't get it either. But hey, whatever floats your boat.
Josh wrote: "I have an ARC of Marshall Thornton's THE GHOST SLEPT OVER. I'm looking forward to it!"Nice :-) Looking forward to this one. I really like his writing, but unfortunately i couldn't bring myself to read the Nick Nowaks after the first three, because of the topic, but i enjoyed everything else i've read by him.
Amish Romance is normally found in the inspirational section. I see a few offerings every Sunday on DailyCheapReads.com. They put inspirational books up there on Sunday.
I stay away from religious books like it's the devil....;) Which is why it was a total surprise at how much I loved Between Sinners and Saints.... of course when I started reading I never thought it had anything to do with religion. But I really do like Mary Sexton's stories... those I've read.
I usually stay away from religious books too. But this one is pretty good. So far. It's the first time I think I've come across a story where sacred ground actively repels vampires. Strange vampires though they are.
Another good one that deals with religion and Amish is A Hole in God's Pocket by K.Z. Snow. Really a wonderful book.I avoid the inspirational romance genre, but I do not avoid religion in books, like Between Sinners and Saints and Hole in God's Pocket. Both were amazing books.
I started reading KZ Snow's Utopia series today. I have nearly finished the first book Looking for Some Touch and i have really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed Between Sinners and Saints when I first read it and will probably do a re read next year. I also really enjoyed LA Witt's Covet Thy Neighbor which has a main character who is a church minister. I appreciated the realistic way in which it portrayed the gay minister and the way he reconciled his faith with his sexuality. I have so many friends and colleagues who are clergy and they are gay, lesbian and transgender and it is good to see stories in which sexuality isnt a barrier to faith.
I have 492,382,845,938 unread books, and what am I doing? Re-reading the Smithfield series by LB Gregg. :)
Lady*M wrote: "I'm rereading Mel Kegan's NARC series. Gay space opera... oh, my! ^^"I've been working my way through those as well! My next one is Stopover, but I'm in a Christmas reading mood right now. :-)
Josh wrote: "Lady*M wrote: "I'm rereading Mel Kegan's NARC series. Gay space opera... oh, my! ^^"I loved those. Damn! I just remembered. I loaned out my originals and never got them back. :-("
I managed to get the first couple of them off of Ebay for too much money years ago. It was difficult to get the hard copies for so long, and now I'm ecstatic that they're available as ebooks. SO much easier--both to buy and to read!
Jordan wrote: "Lol, having two days off in the middle of the week is a huge help with all of these BOMs and book challenges I'm doing that have to be read this week. Tomorrow I can read another Brandstetter and get myself caught up there. Woot! ..."
These challenges are killing me. I really want to do the Rifter series with everyone, but I just have so many other books to read right now. I mean--Christmas stories! (Er, "Holiday" stories to be politically correct.)
At least I was able to get all the rest of the Brandstetter books for 1.99 each on cyberMonday!
I loved Mel Keegan's "Dangerous Moonlight." So much so that I promised myself I'd start reading his backlist. I need to do that. His writing was wonderful.
Carlita wrote: "I loved Mel Keegan's "Dangerous Moonlight." So much so that I promised myself I'd start reading his backlist. I need to do that. His writing was wonderful."Another author I haven't heard about and want to check out. Damn what you people do to me and my VISA card! ;)
Susinok wrote: "I have 492,382,845,938 unread books, and what am I doing? Re-reading the Smithfield series by LB Gregg. :)"I had a similar thought when I re-read the Dangerous Ground series so I could read Kick Start. And when I listened to Simple Gifts by LB Gregg. But I think re-reading good books is one of life's joys, and I refuse to submit to the tyranny of the TBR pile/list!
I did a re-read of the PsyCop series this summer before the new book came out. There are so many small, enjoyable details that you miss when there are months, or even years, between reading books in a series. I do like to read new stuff, and lord knows I have enough new stuff on the TBR to keep me reading for years. But nothing beats an old favorite for comfort reading.
Hj wrote: "I had a similar thought when I re-read the Dangerous Ground series so I could read Kick Start."I'm doing it now!
Becky wrote: "I did a re-read of the PsyCop series this summer before the new book came out."I want to do it! ;-). And because of that I haven't read the new book.
Antonella wrote: "Becky wrote: "I did a re-read of the PsyCop series this summer before the new book came out."I want to do it! ;-). And because of that I haven't read the new book."
Better get on it! Spook Squad was goooood.
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Now I have another request: Girl, 15, likes romantic stuff, Shakespeare, Jane..."
My YA background is all more adventurey type, so someone else may be a better help here. (Has she read Cassandra Clare already? I know CC is very popular.)
Depending on how much she likes fantasy, Tamora Pierce is always a good bet for writing strong YA women (with some romance.)
Also Libba Bray who wrote A Great and Terrible Beauty.
Any chance you can get a wishlist from her? So hard to tell what people have already read.