When you're not reading a cozy.... Showing 3,651-3,700 of 5,946

[Melissa]

Reading The Serpent's Shadow .

[Marisa, Cozy Mysteries Assistant Moderator]

A. wrote: "Jennifer and Melodie,
You have convinced me to start the Alpha and Omega series! Thank you :-)"

A. They have reason, only the firs novella is truly a romance (I love it, BTW), the other ones are in Mercy style.

[❂ Murder by Death]

A. wrote: "Jennifer and Melodie,
You have convinced me to start the Alpha and Omega series! Thank you :-)"

A. - I've just started the newest Mercy Thompson, Frost Burned and it refers very heavily to events that took place in the last Alpha and Omega book, Fair Game. It's probably not crucial to read Fair Game first, but things will make more sense.

Also, definitely read the Alpha & Omega short story first before book 1. I read book 1 first and it felt like I was joining a conversation in the middle of a sentence.

[Melodie]

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "A. wrote: "Jennifer and Melodie,
You have convinced me to start the Alpha and Omega series! Thank you :-)"

A. - I've just started the newest Mercy Thompson, Frost Burned and it..."

I never read the A&O short story and didn't feel like I missed anything, but if you're a hardcore RIO person you'll probably want to read it.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "Yep - I agree with all of this. Heather and Melodie prodded me to read the Mercy series and I loved them. Then picked up the A&O series and liked them almost as much."

Hehe... Dare I mention that the next book, Night Broken, is out March 4? ☺

[Karen M]

Starting a new one placed in Alaska, Somewhere West of Roads.

[❂ Murder by Death]

Heather L wrote: "Hehe... Dare I mention that the next book, Night Broken, is out March 4? ☺"

It's already pre-ordered. :D

[Melodie]

Heather L wrote: "Hehe... Dare I mention that the next book, Night Broken, is out March 4? ☺"

I've had it on order since summer!!

[J.A.]

Question: Mercy Thompson vs the A&O series - which would you recommend starting with?

[Melodie]

J.A.Lang wrote: "Question: Mercy Thompson vs the A&O series - which would you recommend starting with?"

Mercy!

[❂ Murder by Death]

J.A.Lang wrote: "Question: Mercy Thompson vs the A&O series - which would you recommend starting with?"

I'd start with Mercy as well. But they both take place in the same "universe" and have overlapping characters (just a couple) so they also intertwine well. As I mentioned earlier, events in the A&O Fair Game happen right before Mercy's Front Burned, and are referred to throughout a lot of the story. (Although each series does stand on it's own without any problem.)

[Lynn]

First book of 2014 is not a cozy: The Mischief of the Mistletoe. I really enjoy the Pink Carnation series and need to catch up on it.

[Katherine]

My first book of 2014: Fifteen Minutes

[Olivia "So many books--so little time.""]

My first book of 2014 is Fallen Masters by John Edward. Part of it is weird because it's set on "the Other Side." But it's a good read.

[Melissa]

Just starting Sugar Rush .

[Karen M]

I've started The Barrytown Trilogy: The Commitments / The Snapper / The Van which is one of the books I wanted to get to last year but didn't.

[Linda882]

Still thrillers- Michael Connelly, Jeffrey Deaver, Mo hayder.... Then total antidote- Jill Mansell

[Amanda]

I just started Contagion by Robin Cook.

[Barbara]

I love reading cozies. Now that we have Netflix I am watching Murder She Wrote. Why don't they rewrite this show and bring it back? My goal is to be another Jessica Fletcher.

[Kathy]

Warned Off. It is a little rough around the edges compared to a Dick Francis, but still good. I got it at a discount price as a 3-book Amazon bundle.

[Nancy]

I read a good romance by Gina Wilkins, a New Year's one. I'll have to try some other books written by her.
Title: A Night to Remember

[Vicky]

I'm reading Ancestors of Avalon by Marion Z. Bradley . It has the ocean on the cover so I can use it for #3 of our January challenge.

[E.L.]

Melodie wrote: "❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "A. wrote: "Jennifer and Melodie,
You have convinced me to start the Alpha and Omega series! Thank you :-)"

A. - I've just started the newest Mercy Tho..."

Dare I admit that I actually prefer the A&O books to Mercy? I like Mercy's character, but the love triangle (almost-quadrangle, in some books) and her occasional "too stupid to live" moments were a definite turn-off. Also, I really love Anna's personality, how she turns what many would consider weakness into strength.

[❂ Murder by Death]

E.L. wrote: "Dare I admit that I actually prefer the A&O books to Mercy? I like Mercy's character, but the love triangle (almost-quadrangle, in some books) and her occasional "too stupid to live" moments were a definite turn-off. Also, I really love Anna's personality, how she turns what many would consider weakness into strength...."

You may dare! ;) I think the are two reasons I lean more towards Mercy than the A&O - maybe three. First, there are more secondary characters in the Mercy series that play a regular role: Jessie, Warren, Stephan, Zee, etc. I think they add a little extra to the stories. Secondly, with the exception of the ending of Iron Kissed, the series doesn't feel quite as dark as A&O. Anna's past is brutal and graphic, and the ending scenes of Fair Game (not to mention the story line itself) go beyond creepy and barrel right into the territory of sadism. Thirdly - I can't remember what I was going to say for thirdly! lol...

But I do really like A&O; it doesn't lose out to Mercy by much - a hair's breadth, really. I love Charles' background and the American Indian tidbits that get strewn throughout the stories, and I really enjoy learning more about Bran. His origin story is brilliant. Anna is pretty likeable too. :)

[Marisa, Cozy Mysteries Assistant Moderator]

I think I'm with E.L. *ducking to avoid stones* I prefer A & O. I don't feel it as a dark series. Dark themes, yes, dark feeling, no. And that's a great difference for me. And yes, Mercy has some TSTL moments that make me cringe.

[Debbie]

I will finish tonight and start next. I'm on a short cozy break.

[BJ Rose]

I'm rereading some romance books in advance of giving them away to make room for my Christmas gifts, which are currently sitting on the floor (apparently, you can have too many books).

Finished & & just started

[Debbie]

BJ Rose wrote: "I'm rereading some romance books in advance of giving them away to make room for my Christmas gifts, which are currently sitting on the floor (apparently, you can have too many books).

Finished [b..."

Oh I don't think you can have to many books...but you can be short on shelf space.

[BJ Rose]

Debbie wrote: "Oh I don't think you can have to many books...but you can be short on shelf space."

Debbie, I agree, but I have no more walls available to put shelves on. Thank goodness for audiobooks!

[E.L.]

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "E.L. wrote: "Dare I admit that I actually prefer the A&O books to Mercy? I like Mercy's character, but the love triangle (almost-quadrangle, in some books) and her occasional "too stupid to live" m..."

It's curious, I actually found more darkness in the Mercy books than in A&O, overall. Fair Game did veer more toward the darkness than the others, I thought, but the feel of the series is, to me, lighter. Marisa sums it up nicely - dark themes, but not a dark feeling!

[Olivia "So many books--so little time.""]

Currently I'm reading The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen for a group read in another group I'm in. So far it's been good.

[❂ Murder by Death]

E.L. wrote: "It's curious, I actually found more darkness in the Mercy books than in A&O, overall. Fair Game did veer more toward the darkness than the others, I thought, but the feel of the series is, to me, lighter. Marisa sums it up nicely - dark themes, but not a dark feeling!."

I am ready to admit that Fair Game probably coloured my view of the whole series. Don't get me wrong - I love the series - but FG (especially the ending) skeeved me right out.

[Melodie]

E.L. wrote: "❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "E.L. wrote: "Dare I admit that I actually prefer the A&O books to Mercy? I like Mercy's character, but the love triangle (almost-quadrangle, in some books)..."

I tend to think of the A&O books as darker, too, because of FAIR GAME. But then IRON KISSED, from the Mercy series, is about as dark as it gets, at least the last few chapters were.

[❂ Murder by Death]

Melodie wrote: "I tend to think of the A&O books as darker, too, because of FAIR GAME. But then IRON KISSED, from the Mercy series, is about as dark as it gets, at least the last few chapters were. "

You're right, Iron Kissed was just, gah! - but River Marked came along and although I enjoyed it, I had a hard time taking it seriously (the final battle part) so my overall view of the Mercy series ends up being as the lighter, slightly-more-humours series.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Debbie wrote: "Oh I don't think you can have to many books...but you can be short on shelf space."

So true! I've had to do double rows on some of my shelves. Would love to add a few more bookcases, but other things are of a higher priority.

[BJ Rose]

Heather L wrote: "So true! I've had to do double rows on some of my shelves. Would love to add a few more bookcases..."

Heather, I already have double rows on all my shelves, and triple on some, so sadly some of the books do have to go. It's very painful!

[E.L.]

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "Melodie wrote: "I tend to think of the A&O books as darker, too, because of FAIR GAME. But then IRON KISSED, from the Mercy series, is about as dark as it gets, at least the last few chapters were...."

Iron Kissed killed the Mercy series for me. I was already having a hard time with it, and that one did me in. I haven't read one since.

Fair Game DID make me uncomfortable. I was reading some old reviews of it just now and going "Oh yeah. I think I blocked that part from my memory. And that part. And that one." I do have to say that as a series, though, I still prefer A&O. We'll see what I think after the next book comes out!

[Melissa]

Starting The Secret of Excalibur: A Novel

[Nicole]

I love to read biographies, true based stories and general crime. I also like chicklits, but not so much anymore these days.

I just started with Bonkers: My Life in Laughs
I absolutely adore Jennifer and her work in Comedy. Especially with Dawn French! I was thrilled when I saw she was writing a biography, and I'm even more over the moon now I have it :)

[Jeanne]

I'm two hundred pages into Doctor Sleep and loving it.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Am about to start Dance Upon The Air, book one in a romance trilogy by Nora Roberts.

[Barb]

Earlier today, while waiting for a service call to attempt to figure out why we have no heat in the house, I started The Bookwoman's Last Fling, the last in the Cliff Janeway series. I've really enjoyed the series, so it's kind of like saying goodbye to a friend! Oh and .. the repairman never showed up! I got a call assuring me that we're "first on the list" for tomorrow afternoon (since I'll be at work in the morning). If I have to spend another evening in a cocoon of blankets/quilts just to keep warm, you'll probably hear the primal scream from wherever you live!

[Beth]

Debbie wrote: "BJ Rose wrote: "I'm rereading some romance books in advance of giving them away to make room for my Christmas gifts, which are currently sitting on the floor (apparently, you can have too many book..."
I agree, no such thing as too many books, just not enough shelves, or places to put shelves : )

[E.L.]

I'm reading Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert Massie right now. It's good, but wow is it thick and PACKED with detail. My head feels stuffed every time I put it down. Think I need something light to read in between chapters just to give my brains a break!

[Karen M]

Finished The Barrytown Trilogy: The Commitments / The Snapper / The Van so I have moved on the 4th book The Guts which brings Jimmy Rabbitte Jr. back as a middle aged man.

[Lynn]

E.L. wrote: "I'm reading Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert Massie right now. It's good, but wow is it thick and PACKED with detail. My head feels stuffed every time I put it dow..."

This is one of those book I can't decide about. I've read his Nicholas & Alexandra (several times actually), but I just can't decide on Catherine the Great. Would you recommend it? I don't mind heaviness or information-overload.

[E.L.]

Lynn wrote: "E.L. wrote: "I'm reading Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert Massie right now. It's good, but wow is it thick and PACKED with detail. My head feels stuffed every time..."

I actually prefer the tone of this one to Nicholas and Alexandra - I felt he veered into smugness there (sorry I can't give you specifics, it was a while ago that I read it), whereas this one, for the most part, has a more neutral feel. He does make assumptions about people's motivations and thoughts and presents them as facts, but he does that in all his biographies (that I've read), so no surprise there. On the whole, it is a good portrait of Russia and Europe at the time, and does give a tremendous amount of detail into Catherine. What it hasn't done, for me at least, is convince me that he's presenting a true portrait of her character - much of what he says I think could have a different interpretation. On the other hand, at least I have the information now to make up my own mind about what I think she might have been like!

So, I guess I would recommend it with reservations.

[Susan]

I am reading Children of the After: Awakening
by Jeremy Laszlo. I wanted to review a book and so I put this one aside, but I'm looking forward to getting back to it. It's a good read.

[Debbie]

I am just finishing up Rose Harbor in Bloom which is the second in DM's return to Cedar Cove. I read the first installment The Inn at Rose Harborlast week. Now I have to wait until this summer for the next installment to be out.

[Marisa, Cozy Mysteries Assistant Moderator]

I'm reading Agent of Change Agent of Change by Sharon Lee. It has been in my TBR for a lot, but now I was in the mood for a bit of romance and sci-fi.