When you're not reading a cozy.... Showing 651-700 of 5,946

[Denise]

I recently became a Harlequin Ambassador and received my first shipment of books to share. Harlequin sent me 5 books, all the same title, 4 to give away and one to keep. I received my shipment yesterday and decided to read mine right away, so I put down The Cookbook Collector: A Novel and started reading A McKaslin Homecoming by Jillian Hart. Jillian is a new author for me. This book is one of their "Love Inspired" books a "Heartwarming inspirational romance". It has a pretty good story. The main character, Lauren, was taken by her mother at 2. There were 5 children, so the mother abandoned the other 4. Lauren was told her whole life that her family didn't want her and she had no contact with them. She is now in her early 20s, working on a master's degree and her grandmother had a private investigator find Lauren. Her grandmother asked her to come visit. Although Lauren thinks she was discarded by the family she accepts her grandmother's invitation. I'm on page 98 and she is just meeting her brother and sisters. The sisters are welcoming but the brother doesn't trust her and thinks she is there to fleece their grandmother just like their mother did many years ago.

Definitely not a "bodice ripper" or whatever they call those steamy romance novels. This actually has a plot and a decent story line. Of course there is going to be a romance between Lauren and ....(I'm not going to mention any names in case someone here would like to read the book or might sign up for the giveaway). I'm going to try to figure out how to put the other 4 books on Goodreads as a giveaway.

[Denise]

Kari wrote: "Denise wrote: "Definitely not a "bottice ripper" or whatever they call those steamy romance novels. This actually has a plot and a decent story line..."

Since this is one of mt pet peeves. The ..."

Kari: Thanks for the correction of the spelling on bodice. (I had ripper correct!) I usually take time to look up spellings, that's what I get for not taking the time.

:-)

[Courtney]

I'm listening to and I'm reading .

[Erin L]

I'm going to be starting at lunch today. I'm apparently a series addict.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

And the term "bodice ripper" hasn't been in vogue since the 70s. It's primarily used these days as a disparaging term to refer to all romance novels by news writers and lit snobs who like to denegrate a genre they've never read.

[Kelley]

Does anyone remember the term 'lusty busty'? That is the term I remember hearing growing up. I also heard bodice ripper, but both were used.

[Leslie]

This weekend I read Here's the Story and Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist. Both interesting in their own way.

[Misty]

Kelley wrote: "Does anyone remember the term 'lusty busty'? That is the term I remember hearing growing up. I also heard bodice ripper, but both were used."

Oh yea - "lusty busty!" I'd forgotten that. LOL. Oddly enough, I'd never heard the term bodice ripper until fairly recently. Honestly though, it pretty much fits most of the romance novels I've ever read. Granted, I haven't read THAT many.

[Sandra J]

You've got to read some more recent stuff. And I highly recommend Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches' Guide to Romance Novels by Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan. There's a good (and snarky and funny) discussion on the "old skool" (yes, spelled that way) novels that definitely are the ones referred to as bodice rippers. Actually the whole book is funny. Who wouldn't love a book with chapter titles like "Chapter Cleavage" and "Chapter Petticoat?"

[Denise]

I started Love in the Present Tense by Catherine Ryan Hyde last night. The jury's still out, I'm not sure if I like it or not. Has anyone read this?

[Denise]

I had some library books in so of course we had to go pick them up. My next Trixie Belden is in (#3) and I am looking forward to that but there was a book that came in that I didn't remember ordering (sad isn't it?). The book is called Passive Aggressive Notes: Painfully Polite and Hilariously Hostile Writings. It is a very quick read and I had to browse and I was hooked so I started reading it. All it is are a bunch of notes that people have left about different things, like room mates to each other, or co-workers to each other, of course left annonymously. You will laugh out loud at some of them. The ones about making coffee at work really hit home to me as I was always going into the kitchen to get a cup and there would be less than a cup with or without grounds that smelled horrid so I would make a new pot. Stealing peoples lunches was another good topic, replacing toilet paper rolls when the roll is empty--those are good also. Anyway, if you want/need a laugh try this book. You can get through it in an hour or less.

[Erin L]

Denise, I check out the passive aggressive notes website every so often. It's a blog, somewhere, but I can't remember the address off the top of my head. You're right there are some hilarious notes and it makes me feel lucky that I've had mostly normal roommates throughout my life.

I started yesterday. I'm really enjoying it. It's a bit of the same kind of story as Stephanie Plum - girl moves to NY for a great job, loses it, ends up falling into PI work but isn't all that great at it. So far she seems to just be fixing the marriages of the people who hire her. I wasn't sure if I'd like it or not, but I've been surprised.

[Shay]

Just started by Alan Brennert.

[Sandie]

Shay wrote: "Just started by Alan Brennert." Read this one some time ago and loved it. If you like this one try his next one HONOLULU. It's about the "picture brides who came to Hawaii before WWII

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Finished Tempted by a Warrior by Amanda Scott last night before bed. It was an okay read. I liked the premise, the setting and the characters, but thought the dialect kept bogging it down.

[Caitlin]

Currently reading Undone, I usually love these books, but this one is a bit more twisted and graphic.

[Shay]

Sandie wrote: "Shay wrote: "Just started by Alan Brennert." Read this one some time ago and loved it. If you like this one try his next one HONOLULU. It's about the "pict..."

I'm about a quarter of the way through. Early on in the book, when they were poking the children with a needle to see if they could feel it, I just got goosebumps. I'm from Hawaii, and they still diagnose leprosy cases every year, and I remember getting a lot of rashes as a child. (I'm allergic to everything.) Several times, I got a rash that wouldn't heal, and I remember getting continually poked by needles, my grandmother, mother, doctor. Leprosy is not common, so it's not like everyone was fearful looking, it was more the expression of relief on their face when you would tell them to stop it or flinch that made you realize how scared people are of this disease.

[Sandie]

Shay wrote: "Sandie wrote: "Shay wrote: "Just started by Alan Brennert." Read this one some time ago and loved it. If you like this one try his next one HONOLULU. It's ..."
Didn't realize that you were from Hawaii and now reside in Vegas (Just got back from there yesterday). Was celebrating my birthday by staying at the Palazzo and seeing Jersey Boys. Really enjoyed my time there...even won $300 on the quarter video poker.

Wait until you reach the part of the book after she is sent to Molokai and her life there. This is a tear jerker and a half. By the way, our daughter who lives is Texas is SHAY also. Whoda thought???

[Erin L]

Finished last night. It was really good actually, although partway through I started figuring it out. Still, I really liked the characters and the story.

I also finished today and it was also good. It'll be interesting to read and see where the story goes.

[Daphne]

Erin wrote: "Finished last night. It was really good actually, although partway through I started figuring it out. Still, I really liked the characters and the story..."

Erin - I liked Catching Fire just as well as the Hunger Games. I can't wait until next month when Mockingjay is released and I find out what happens next with Katniss and the guys. The sections when they are participating in the game, I can't stop reading. I am really sucked into this series ... fantastic!

[Shay]

@Sandie, everyone says Jersey Boys is great! Haven't gone yet, always let our friends choose because we can see stuff anytime. But then we never do. I don't work there, so I'm not shilling for them, but the comps are the best at Harrah's. (Don't work for them.) You can stay at any property and earn points on everything, even food. After our first stay, we got comped two rooms on our next stay and free rooms for 5 more sets of friends. And, we're not high rollers.

[Denise]

Kari wrote: "Denise wrote: "I started reading The Cookbook Collector: A Novel by Allegra Goodman. Recently I read a cookbook collecting and pricing guide and I must have seen this..."
Kari: you had asked me to let you know about this book. I'm not finished yet--I'm on page 124 and still don't know why it is called The Cookbook Collector. I'll keep you posted. (And it isn't all that great a story or at least not so far.)

[Denise]

I finished Love in the Present Tense. This book could have been really good but it wasn't. The plot (or what I think was the plot) had some merit, it is too bad that the author really didn't develop the story very well. I kept hoping it would get better, it didn't. I wouldn't recommend.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Daphne wrote: "I can't wait until next month when Mockingjay is released and I find out what happens next with Katniss and the guys."

Count me among those impatiently awaiting book three. Is it August yet??

[Sandra J]

I just got Sweater Quest, My Year of Knitting Dangerously by Adrienne Martini yesterday afternoon. It's sort of a Julie and Julia of knitting. I'm really enjoying it; but if you're not a knitter, skip this one.

[Shannon]

I have read and it was great. A 5 star read for me.I may be biased as I was born and raised on Oahu but this books was excellent for me. It brought so many things to light for me. You know those things that you never even wondered about because that is just the way things have always been? Well this book opened my eyes as to why things are certain ways and how they became that way. I drank this book up greedily and next I will get a hold on the author's other book- . Last night I just finished and really enjoyed that one as well. Another 5 star book for me.

[Sandie]

Shay: Thanks for the info on Harrahs. By the way, have you read The Kitchen House yet. Not bad if you enjoy historical fiction.

[Shay]

Sandie wrote: "Shay: Thanks for the info on Harrahs. By the way, have you read The Kitchen House yet. Not bad if you enjoy historical fiction."

No, I haven't read it, but added it to my to be read list. Thanks, it looks really interesting.

[Melodie]

Shannon wrote: "I have read and it was great. A 5 star read for me.I may be biased as I was born and raised on Oahu but this books was excellent for me. It brought so many things to lig..."

How did you end up in VA?? DH has a good friend who's also from Hawaii and came to CO to go to college. Met a girl in school, got married and stayed here.

[Kaye]

I just started The Island by Elin Hilderbrand and loving it already. Excellent read set on Tuckernuck, a small island near Nantucket.

[Susie]

Shay wrote: "Sandie wrote: "Shay wrote: "Just started by Alan Brennert." Read this one some time ago and loved it. If you like this one try his next one HONOLULU. It's ..."

My husband is from Maui...so I may have to try these books!

[Shannon]

Melodie wrote: "Shannon wrote: "I have read and it was great. A 5 star read for me.I may be biased as I was born and raised on Oahu but this books was excellent for me. It brought so ma..."

I always get asked this question. I met my DH while he was in the military and stationed on Oahu. We got married and I left with him. You know how they say love makes you blind? Well I was so blinded with love I would've probably followed him anywhere lol.

[Denise]

Sandie wrote: "Shay: Thanks for the info on Harrahs. By the way, have you read The Kitchen House yet. Not bad if you enjoy historical fiction."

The Kitchen House was a 5 star read for me. Loved it. (I did a review if you are interested.)

[Melissa]

I started The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott today and so far I am loving it. Little Women is a favorite of mine since childhood. I've read a book or two about Louisa May Alcott and am finding this to be fun and informative.

[Denise]

The Cookbook Collector: A Novel is just not holding my attention (so far nothing about cookbooks) so I started reading If I Stay. It was brought to my attention in another group that I'm in and it is pretty good. It is a "teen" book but my 58 years old mind is liking it!

[Melodie]

Denise wrote: "The Cookbook Collector: A Novel is just not holding my attention (so far nothing about cookbooks) so I started reading If I Stay. It was brought to my attention in ano..."

I LOVE YA books, and I'm only a little younger than you. I generally like them with a supernatural bent to them, tho.

[Shannon]

Denise wrote: "Sandie wrote: "Shay: Thanks for the info on Harrahs. By the way, have you read The Kitchen House yet. Not bad if you enjoy historical fiction."

The Kitchen House was a 5 star rea..."

I am so glad you enjoyed it I loved The Kitchen House too.

[Denise]

I finished If I Stay. It was pretty good, I didn't give it a rave review but it was okay. You pretty much can figure what Mia's choice is going to be early on but of course the author drug it out to the last page.

I went back to reading The Cookbook Collector: A Novel. You finally get to cookbooks around page 178. Most of this book is about 2 sisters, one the CEO of a software company, her boyfriend who is one of the founding members of another software company, and the perpetual student sister who is also a "tree hugger" and works in a used bookstore. You spend very little time in the bookstore and a large portion of the book goes back and forth between the software companies. I'm going to finish it but it isn't at all what the title leads you to believe.

[Shay]

Thanks for the recommendation. Requested The Kitchen House from the library. I had to go and pick up books to free up slots on my library list.

[Suzanne]

Yesterday I started Still Life, which I'm thinking isn't cozy because it is a police investigator solving the crime, but it sure seems cozy because Three Pines is such a quaint little village. I want to live there!! And so far I am loving Gamache. I think this might be a new series for me.

I also started The Midnight Twins which is YA. Intriguiing.

[Heidi]

I like the Three Pines books :)

[Erin L]

Suzanne wrote: "Yesterday I started Still Life, which I'm thinking isn't cozy because it is a police investigator solving the crime, but it sure seems cozy because Three Pines is such a quaint little..."

I love the Three Pines books too! Cozy or not, they're fantastic.

[Melodie]

Suzanne wrote: "Yesterday I started Still Life, which I'm thinking isn't cozy because it is a police investigator solving the crime, but it sure seems cozy because Three Pines is such a quaint little..."

These are good books!

[Denise]

I finished The Cookbook Collector: A Novel. I was disappointed. (I wrote a review if you want to check that out.)

Next up for me are two fairly short books. The first one is an interlibrary loan so I will probably read it first. The interlibrary loan book is The Art of being a Healing Presence and the other one is Discovering Your Spirit Animal: The Wisdom of the Shamans.

[Susan]

I just started Linger by Maggie Stiefvater...cant believe I'm finally reading this book as I have been waiting forever to get my hands on it!!

[Melodie]

Susan wrote: "I just started Linger by Maggie Stiefvater...cant believe I'm finally reading this book as I have been waiting forever to get my hands on it!!"

My copy should be here tomorrow. I've been anxiously awaiting it!

[Denise]

Susan wrote: "I just started Linger by Maggie Stiefvater...cant believe I'm finally reading this book as I have been waiting forever to get my hands on it!!"

Susan and Melodie: I have never heard of the book or the author (and too lazy to look it up). What's it about?

[Denise]

I started Parting Gifts last night. I was crying by the end of the first chapter. It is a good story about Maddie who is desperate for food and shelter because her father and brother were killed and she was left all alone with no money, she has sold her coat and her shoes and has nothing left but her body. (This takes place in 1881 so no homeless shelters yet.) The madam of the local "house" is excited when she finds out Maddie is a virgin. When the bidding starts Maddie focuses on a crack in the wall and is surprised when a gentleman bids $1,000 for her. Charles is a widower with three children and he wanted more from Maddie than a night of pleasure. Charles takes Maddie to his hotel room, feeds her, cleans her up and asks her to marry him. She does. I won't tell you the rest of the story but it is not what you would think from my little description. Just let me say it is a good story so far and promises to be a good book.

I received this book through interlibrary loan from Spartanburg County Public Library in Spartanburg S.C. I had read Parting Gifts by Charlotte Vale Allen which was a very good book (nothing like this one) and when looking it up found another Parting Gifts but by Lorraine Heath (the book I'm reading now).

[Rusty]

When I'm not reading a mystery, I'm reading a fantasy, a historical fiction, a contemporary novel or a classics book. I like to switch around a bit so I'm a bit of an eclectic reader like Dorothy. Right now I am reading Middlesex, The Thirteenth Tale and Outlander while my mystery is nearby where I stopped on page 10.

[Melodie]

Denise wrote: "Susan wrote: "I just started Linger by Maggie Stiefvater...cant believe I'm finally reading this book as I have been waiting forever to get my hands on it!!"

Susa..."

It's YA UF. It's the 2nd book of a trilogy and the first is . I LOVED SHIVER! One of my favorite reads this year. It's about werewolves, but a totally different take on the werewolf legends. I highly recommend it if you like the genres.