Now, What Do You Have There *peeks at cover* (Currently Reading)

[Rita]

Okay- so, us avid readers are constantly starting and finishing up books in our never-ending TBR piles mountains. Even though goodreads provides a 'currently reading' status, don't we all just love to gush about the books attached to our wrists? Feel free to post what you are reading now and keep the group updated! I will edit this first post whenever I want to update you guys on what I am reading, so you can always check back here and see what I am working on.

As of 8/8/10

and I've got to ask.."HEY YOU, 'What Do You Have There?'"

[Clare]

I've got Midnight Pleasures With a Scoundrel. Beginning was weak, but I am loving how it plays out.

[Rita]

OOO! Lorraine Heath! I've heard about her. Never gotten a chance to read anything by her yet!!!! Me and my friend always joke about 'the hump'. Lots of books have this hump in the beginning that makes getting INTO the story hard... Glad you got over the hump! ;)

[Rita]

I just BLAZED through: -'Never Less Than A Lady' by Mary Jo Putney..

Such an amazing and well-paced book! From page one you are literally ensnared and never released. For those who haven't read it yet, I won't give away too many details, but I have to say: Many authors add domestic abuse elements to their stories. Some people aren't real fans of it, but the type of characters it produces are the kinds that affect and stick with me. Julia bares certain 'scars' from her first husbands cruelty and it was so unlike anything I've seen in this sort of plot before. I was shocked and taken by surprise by her startling scars. I've never seen an author go so far before and the plot took on another level and was all the more devastating (in a good way) for it. We all know the emotional scars abuse victim carry, but Julia's physical scars were almost too much to bare! But Alex (a.k.a Randall) was tender ,kind and understanding and made her feel beautiful!

I think I fell in love with him a little too!!

I am currently digging into the surprisingly 'different' yet all too interesting - 'The Sins of Lord Easterbrook' by Madeline Hunter! So far, so good!

and I've just got to ask..."HEY YOU, What Do You Have There?"

[Helen]

My TBR pile is massive and just keeps getting bigger and I love it LOL

I am currently reading Tessa Dare's Goddess Of The Hunt and loving it I have all of her books but this is the first one I have read now to find more time to read if only I could retire.

Have Fun
Helen

[Rita]

I just got my first Tessa Dare in the mail the other day. It is the first in that Stud Club trilogy! I hear great things and I want to read the other trilogy (from whence Goddess of the hunt' came) too! All her books seem like keepers!

Hope you have Happy Readings with that book! Make sure to stop back by once you're done and tell me your final thoughts/what your going to read next!

Many hugs,
Rita

[Clare]

Really? I thought Never Less Than a Lady was weak. They get engaged in the first chapter, practically. And her psychic scars practically disappear. And Julia’s father-in-law is insane. Really. He never forgives his daughter-in-law, and sends out goons to kidnap her from her isolated cottage, where she was living after she faked her own death.

It wasn't nearly as good as Mary Balogh's . Irresistible

But I need a good one.

[Rhonda]

I just finished two books Tessa Dare's Three Nights with a Scoundrel and Eloisa James' A Kiss At Midnight. AKAM was great especially the pickel-eating dog that got eaten by a lion. lol This book is a must read as soon as you get it. It start out great all the way through, Kate is so funny and smart, Gabriel is caring and thoughtful and doesnt act like a prince, he almost thinks it a burden and dont forget Lady Wrothe the (fairy) godmother she reminds me of Lady Danbury in the Bridgerton books but younger and naughtier. TNWAS was so good too Lily and Julian were great.

[Rita]

Aww =( . I just loved it! They did get engaged pretty fast, but Randall was a pride-filled manly man. He wouldn't admit his strong inner-attraction and with his time at war, his thoughts of julia probably became irrational (like a need to hold on to something pure). Opportunity presented itself and she was going to die without his help.
I did get a little twinge of 'hmm' when she just grabbed his..umm, 'member?', and pushed her fears aside, but the 'B' and 'D' (you know what I am talking about) just took me by surprise! I didn't expect that.
And the father-in-law was a douche but you kinda got why he was so loony when you heard of the wife's miscarriage and son's death and other 'kicked when down' occurrences. He was already a 'member' to begin with, and circumstances just drove him over the edge (no excuse though!).

I have to try that Mary Balogh btw! she the Author of the month on my blog and I love her!!!

[Rita]

Clare wrote: "Really? I thought Never Less Than a Lady was weak. They get engaged in the first chapter, practically. And her psychic scars practically disappear. And Julia’s father-in-law is insane. Really. He ..."

(above comment was for you too, I forgot to hit reply)

and thanks for sharing your thoughts! Readers don't always agree on books, but it's nice to get a dialogue going!!! (smiles BIG)!

[Rita]

Rhonda wrote: "I just finished two books Tessa Dare's Three Nights with a Scoundrel and Eloisa James' A Kiss At Midnight. AKAM was great especially the pickel-eating dog that got eaten by a lion. lol This book ..."

I've got to read this one soon. I respect your opinion Rhonda so I know if you think highly of this book, It's worth a try. I've got to read more Eloisa's. Plan to get - 'Much Ado About You' on my next library trip!

And pickle eating dogs? and dog eating lions? Okay, this is a MUST GET NOW!! lol ! Only Eloisa could pull that off!

Thanks for sharing!

[Clare]

I LOVE Mary Balogh. Some of her older ones are out of print which is too bad. Avoid her latest Novella "A Matter of Class." It should be in an anthology but I *gasp* paid full price for it. I was so mad at the stupid twist ending.

I loved and read Jo Goodman's The Compass Club series, so the B & D didn't surprise me.

Maybe that's why I didn't like "Never Less Than a Lady" because it took two big plot points from two novels I had previously loved, but wasn't nearly as good as the ones she stoled/borrowed from.

[Rita]

Clare wrote: "I LOVE Mary Balogh. Some of her older ones are out of print which is too bad. Avoid her latest Novella "A Matter of Class." It should be in an anthology but I *gasp* paid full price for it. I was s..."

Yep, some of her older works are getting a second life and being re-printed, but those originals are either scarce and/or have a hefty price tag (collectibles.oldies..my library has a lot of them)./ and i wanted to check out a mater of class, but I usually go to my library first, so I'll avoid paying full price if this one is a bomb for me.

I haven't read any Jo Goodman's or books with that 'B & D' element, so this being my first time, it probably did more to me than it did for you and effected my overall view of the book. Even so, I just love my Mr.Alexander David Randall...*sigh*...

now I've got to check out that Jo book too! Thanks for the stack of library books I've got to check out now! lol.. I can feel my arms falling off now!

[Jennifer]

Rita wrote: "I just BLAZED through: -'Never Less Than A Lady' by Mary Jo Putney..

Such an amazing and well-paced book! From page one you are literally ensnared and ne..."

Well, I know we've discussed this, but I, too, think this was an okay read, but not great. I think it's better than "Loving a Lost Lord," but just doesn't live up to her earlier works. Silk and Shadows, for example, is just so... DEEP. It's NOT light-hearted, but the story is so incredible and the hero is so amazing and... well, this is like reading... Hm. Well, I don't want to offend people by comparisons. lol But I will say that I really don't find many authors that can embrace troubling subjects and STILL make you come away feeling good about the book. With Never Less Than a Lady, it was just too glossed over, not as traumatic. As with most romances, the hero was better than the heroine, which is probably what you're able to grasp on to (since Randall is good, yes, :D).

So... read the Fallen Angels series if you haven't already, but I also highly recommend the Silk series, probably even more. Ooo! For a stand alone, totally blew me away but I did NOT expect to like it? Uncommon Vows. It's got a lot of religious undertones (but NOT preachy), so maybe not up your alley, but it's still very, very good.

[Rita]

Jennifer wrote: ."Well, I know we've discussed this, but I, too, think this was an okay read, but not great. I think it's better than "Loving a Lost Lord," but just doesn't live up to her earlier works. Silk and Shadows, for example, is just so... DEEP. It's NOT light-hearted, but the story is so incredible and the hero is so amazing and... well, this is like reading... Hm. .."

I was already planning on making Mary Jo an author of the month for one of the months coming up. (probably when she has a new release coming out; May 2011). Now, I'd love for you guys to help/participate in a more in-depth discussion of MJP's works (both older and newer, betters and not-so-greats) to be posted on my blog..when all that comes to pass I'll find a way to contact you all and figure out the best way to get your opinions for the discussion post! This shall be great fun!
Thanks for stopping by Jen and sharing as well. Like I told Clare, I can already feel my arms ache from the stack of books I now have to procure!

[Rita]

(I am re-posting my first 'currently reading' update because I will now be editing the first post in this topic every time I want to update you guys on what I am reading. Doing it this way will make it easier for you guys to find what I am reading now in the future and leave your thoughts!)

As of 7/31/2010- I am reading : - Swept Away By A Kiss by Katharine Ashe

... So far, I appreciate the descriptive prowess of Katharine Ashe and her 'writing flow'. I am all too antsy to figure out WHAT is going on with the Jesuit-priest with a carnal look in his eye ;)...WOOT WOOT! I am not IN-LOVE with books that start off with lots of intrigue and mystery and don't tell you straight out whats going on. (It's the malfunction attention-span that makes these books a trial for me), but KA has me curious. Hope the plot starts to be revealed in the next few pages. (just on chapter 2, lots of pages left to get my answers)