Soooo, I got Β£200 worth of Amazon vouchers for Christmas, I know I’m still boycotting them, but what are you gonna do when you get given their vouchers as gifts?
Anyway, I can’t be arsed trolling round RomanceLand to see what books you guys are reading, so I’m hoping some of you will help me out by recommending some books for me to spend my greens on.
I think I’m fairly easy to please, however, I have some books I wont read:
I don’t want any vampire/wolfie recs – Nothing has changed as far as reading them, I’m burnt out on them and staying that way for the foreseeable.
No BDSM shit either. Being a borderline feminist, anything that involves another woman wearing a collar or being ‘pleasurably spanked’ is enough to make me eat my own face.
No hystericals, unless they’re by Kleypas/Sarah McCarty/ Elizabeth Hoyt. Actually, scratch that, American hystericals are fine.
No SEAL books. They tend to bore me stiff more often than not.
Other than the above, I’m easy.
So, what books would you guys like to recommend for me and my Β£200?
Miravlix
January 7
7:10 pm
My jade factor kicks in on one book romances, they are great to read, but I don’t really remember the story a week later.
Thinking back to stories I’ve read over the years and I still recall, one comes to mind for several reasons.
David Weber’s Honor Harrington series.
I chose it because:
Female heroine and the author is a guy.
It’s not written for the sake of the romance, but it still has it. (The romance elements there is, is defining moments for the Heroine)
The alternative relationship with her alien sentient cat, while it’s not the best example of a non-sexual relationship, it actually ends up being a factor in romance.
It flirts with your dislike list, is the alien cat connection a form of wolfie, but not wolfie? It’s a military story, so are we talking SEAL like, but not SEAL?
sallah
January 7
9:10 pm
not a romance, per se, but I read a book recently, called… “The Help” by Katheryn Stocket, Its about the Black women domestics of the 60s south and the families they work for. I suck at synopisis, but this book was funny, sad, informative on so many levels.. It was reccomended for me and I was reluctant because I hate preachy books, but it wasn’t at all!
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9:12 pm
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Victoria Janssen
January 7
9:30 pm
I just finished MARRY ME by Jo Goodman, an American historical – really a lot of fun. The setting is a Colorado mining town, late 19th century.
In mystery, I HIGHLY recommend Sarah Smith’s THE VANISHED CHILD – on amz uk I only see it used, however. I haven’t read her new book yet (THE OTHER SIDE OF DARK) so can’t comment on it. I bought it, though.
In historical fantasy, have you read Naomi Novik? HIS MAJESTY’S DRAGON is the first one. Author is American writing Brits, but it’s fantasy, so not sure if that will annoy you.
Amarinda Jones
January 7
11:21 pm
I’ve been reading books by Karen Rose. They’re crime/thriller/romance. The characters are strong, the story keeps you involved and they have the romantic happy – after much drama – ending. As for books I am over? MM romance by female authors.
Karen Scott
January 7
11:22 pm
Word.
Angela James
January 7
11:51 pm
Here’s a list of some of my favorites from the past few months:
Iron Duke by Meljean Brook
Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey (if you’re willing to buy digital)
Something About You by Julie James
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Darkest Hour and No Place to Run by Maya Banks
Perfect Play by Jaci Burton
Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah Maclean
and the Sebastian St. Cyr books by C.S. Harris
I tried to avoid any urban fantasy recs, since you said no vampires, but if you should change your mind… And I tried to pick a variety of genres. If you’re curious, I talk about almost all of these books in this post: http://nicemommy-evileditor.com/blog/2011/01/01/a-look-back-at-my-personal-2010-faves/
Michelle
January 8
12:57 am
Have you read Christopher Fowler’s Peculiar Crime Unit series? I read them out of order. I started with The Victoria Vanishes. They can be read as a stand alone.
Shiloh Walker
January 8
4:05 am
200? wow. that’s a lot of books. Hmmm. I’d recommend me but you read me. π
Ever read Julie James? She’s fun-contemporary stuff, really good.
EC Sheedy
January 8
7:45 am
Here’s a list put together by @limecello . It’s made up of books she’s looking forward to in 2011. Some of them sound great. Might make you want to hold on to those gift certificates. π Hey, and Happy New Year!
http://limecello.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/best-of-2011/
Carolyn
January 8
9:33 am
Just finished Karina Bliss’ Here Comes the Groom and highly recommend it. It’s a contemporary.
I second the Julie James rec. She has a new one coming out too. π
Angela James
January 8
4:00 pm
I think I got caught in the spam filter with my original comment (it may not have liked that historical I slipped in π )
ClaudiGC
January 8
5:39 pm
Have you tried Pamela Clare’s historicals? They’re set in the French-Indian War in America. I really love them! They are very historically accurate and richly detailed. And the heroes are very yummy. π
And you’ve really got to try Julie James! Awesome books!
Another contemp author I really love is Jill Shalvis. She writes very sexy books with great heroes.
Karen Scott
January 8
7:45 pm
Thanks guys, I already have a Julie James somewhere, I’ll have to actually read it. Karina Bliss goes on the to-buy list though, I have one of hers already, the librarian one?
@ClaudiGC I think I only have Pamela Clare’s contemps, but I can try her hystericals, any one in particular?
@ECSheedy Thanks, I’ll check out Limecello’s list.
Thanks everyone else for the recs, keep ’em coming.
orannia
January 9
3:49 am
That’s all I’ve been reading since Christmas. I was going to suggest Ginn Hale’s Lord of the White Hell, which is m/m fantasy, but…. *thinks*
I was also going to suggest Julia Spencer-Fleming’s fantastic series, but I see you’ve read that already π Hmmm. Have you read Deanna Raybourn’s Silent in the Grave. It is historical – Victorian to be precise – but it’s not exactly a romance. It’s more a historical supsense with romantic threads. And the opening sentences…I love:
Happy shopping!
Daisy
January 9
4:46 am
If you haven’t read them I would recommend any and all of the Eve Dallas books by JD Robb – but read them in order, that’s best.
If you are in the group itching for to finish Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series – Shadowfever is released on January 18th. (I am still debating it as I am still pissed about the last book.)
Tess Garritsen is a good read, though if you have seen any of the TV episodes of her Rizzoli and Isles series, you won’t recognize the books. Same goes for Kathy Rieches (TV’s Bones) – great series of books with no connection to the TV series that is based upon them other than character names.
Love, love, love John Sandford’s Prey series. Lucas Davenport is not your regular romance hero and it is not a regular romance series, but it works as one for me.
Okay – none of those are romance suggestions. I just really don’t read much romance any more. But they are good books all.
Karen Scott
January 9
9:20 am
@Orannia, Thanks for the recs, but no MM for me. Deanna Raybourn’s book sounds interesting, I’ll look it up.
@Daisy read all the Eve/Rourke books. Could never quite get into Karen Moning, have read some Tess Gerritsen, but I think I’m boycotting her books for some reason. I’ll have a look at the John Sandford books though.
So for I’ve spent Β£14 of my Β£200 gift vouchers, buying books never used to be this hard.
SarahT
January 9
10:09 am
Here are a few books I enjoyed recently:
‘Liberating Lacey’ by Anne Calhoun – A wealthy woman in her late thirties has a fling with a cop ten years her junior. It’s a contemporary erotic romance.
Two contemporaries by Pamela Morsi: ‘The Bikini Car Wash’ and ‘Red’s Hot Honky-Tonk Bar’. Morsi used to write historical romances but has now moved into contemporary romance/Women’s Fiction.
I thoroughly enjoyed Lori Armstrong’s four-book Julie Collins mystery series. There’s a hot romantic story arc in there, too. The first one is called ‘Blood Ties’. Lori Armstrong also writes erotic romance as Lorelei James, but the mysteries are totally different in tone and style (i.e.: don’t expect raunchy sex scenes, especially not in the first book).
Happy reading!
ClaudiGC
January 9
12:55 pm
I think you should start with “Ride the Fire” (Pamela Clare). I really loved it, it’s on my keeper shelf.
Happy shopping! π
throwmearope
January 9
4:47 pm
Anything by Lois McMaster Bujold except Ethan of Athos, from your proscription of anything MM. Shards of Honor is the best place to start, Cordelia is my favorite heroine ever.
orannia
January 9
11:10 pm
If you do try Silent in the Grave I look forward to hearing what you think π
And I understand about the m/m – ATM I just can’t read paranormal romance *grin*
fiona jayde
January 11
1:18 am
I’ve recently read Eve Silver’s Sins series and would definitely recommend it. It’s paranormal romance but unique in that it has to do with Egyptian mythology, kickass heroines (which I love) and her writing rhythm is wonderful.
Diane V
January 12
5:37 pm
How about Maya Banks? Either her Sweet series or KGI.
Cynthia Eden’s Fear Series or Nalini Singh’s Angel series.