Book a Week 2020 - BW45: Ladies of Fiction bookology - Jayne Ann Krentz and Cherie Priest

[Robin M]

Happy Sunday, my lovelies. This month you are getting two for the price of one with authors  Cherie Priest and Jayne Ann Krentz.  I somehow missed highlighting Krentz last month so the two red heads get to share this month.  Both the ladies currently reside in the state of Washington.  

 Jayne Ann Krentz encompasses three different worlds including contemporary romantic suspense as well as historical romantic suspense under the pseudonym of Amanda Quick, and futuristic paranormal suspense under her real name, Jayne Castle. Krentz has written many books under 7 different pens names over the years from the 80's to the present. I've read quite a few of her books and all are very entertaining. 

 Cherie Priest has written over two dozen books as well as multiple short stories in the steampunk, horror, and mysteries genres.  She is best known for her Clockwork Century series starting with Boneshaker which I have on my shelves and am looking forward to reading. 

There are a number of ways to complete the bookology challenge, including but not limited to:

Spell out the author's name - one book per letter from the title on the cover.

Read one or more books written by the author.

Read a book written in the country or time period of the author.

 Learn more about our authors with a Conversation with Jayne Ann Krentz, youtube interview Book Lust with Nancy Pearl featuring Jayne Ann Krentz, as well as The Queen of Steampunk Speaks: An Interview with Cherie Priest and The Toll by Cherie Priest Is the Southern Gothic Horror Novel of the Summer.

Cheers and happy reading! 

 

Link to week 44

Visit  52 Books in 52 Weeks where you can find all the information on the annual, mini and perpetual challenges, as well as share your book reviews with other readers  around the globe.

[Robin M]

I'm currently reading Jayne Ann Krentz aka Amanda Quick's first book in her Burning Cove Series - The Girl Who Knew Too Much  and she does and runs which puts her on the run to her new life. Good so far. 

"At the exclusive Burning Cove Hotel on the coast of California at a beautiful actress at the bottom of a pool....
 
The dead woman had something Irene wanted: a red-hot secret about an up-and-coming leading man—a scoop that may have gotten her killed. As Irene searches for the truth about the drowning, she’s drawn to a master of deception. Once a world-famous magician whose career was mysteriously cut short, Oliver Ward is now the owner of the Burning Cove Hotel. He can’t let scandal threaten his livelihood, even if it means trusting Irene, a woman who seems to have appeared in Los Angeles out of nowhere four months ago.
 
With Oliver’s help, Irene soon learns that the glamorous paradise of Burning Cove hides dark and dangerous secrets. And that the past—always just out of sight—could drag them both under...."

May take a break from Wheel of Time to delve in to Cherie Priest's Boneshaker. 

 

Saturday's continuing adventures in the Marvel Universe was Doctor Strange which was really, really good.  How do I know.  One bathroom break for all mid way through the movie vs half a dozen.  😄

[Negin]

Robin, thank you, as always, for this wonderful thread. 

I read Strong Women, Strong Bones - 3 Stars - This book is full of helpful information, but it is a bit dated. I really wish that her workouts as well as her tests for balance, and so on, were in the form of DVDs. I’m not into workouts that are in book/paper-type format. Give me a DVD or YouTube workout any day. I have found some resources that seem to be more helpful than this book. If you are interested, do yourself a favor, and look into Menopause Taylor’s YouTube channel or podcast. She also has a book, which I hope to read soon.

Here are some of my favorite quotes and helpful information:

“Menopausal women typically lose 1 to 3 percent of their bone mass annually, and some lose as much as 5 percent. Because change is so rapid, these years are a critical time for preventive measures.”

Bone Density Testing

“After your first bone density test, I suggest testing every two or three years, except under these circumstances: If you’re starting treatment for osteopenia or osteoporosis, have annual tests for the first three years to monitor effectiveness. Afterwards, testing every two or three years usually suffices. Your doctor may want more frequent tests if you’re changing treatments or if you continue to have rapid bone loss. Less frequent tests might be suggested if you’re younger and your bones have been stable. If you took your first bone density test before your mid-forties simply to obtain a baseline, and your bone density was normal or above normal, you don’t need another test until you enter menopause—unless you develop a significant new risk factor for osteoporosis. After menopause, have tests every two years. If your bone density is well above average, and you have no major risk factors other than your age and the fact that you’re a woman, tests can be done less frequently.”

Bone Strength Checklist

“Are you strength-training at least twice a week?

If you’re younger than 50 and in good health, have you been doing one to two minutes of vertical jumping three to six days a week?

Do you take time for balance exercises?

Do you stretch after every workout or at other times during the day?

Are you overdoing caffeine—more than 400 milligrams (e.g., four cups of coffee) per day?

Is there too much stress in your life?”

Caffeine

“Caffeine consumption over about 400 milligrams per day—the equivalent of four cups of coffee—doubles the risk of hip fracture. Caffeine has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of calcium in the urine. Another concern is that caffeinated beverages may replace liquids that contain calcium.”

“Though coffee—with about 100 milligrams per cup—is the major source of caffeine for most Americans, it’s not the only one. Tea has about 40 milligrams of caffeine per cup. Many people don’t realize that soda often contains as much caffeine as tea (and nearly as much as coffee in some cases).”

Counting while exercising

“Count out loud while you exercise If you count, you automatically breathe properly—inhaling before you start the move, and exhaling as you lift and lower the weight. Counting aloud also reminds you to move slowly, which makes the moves safer and more effective.”

Dieting

“Yo-yo dieting—frequent cycles of losing and then regaining 15 or more pounds—puts you at increased risk for osteoporosis. That’s because most people lose bone (and muscle) along with fat when they lose weight. We suspect that rapid weight loss is particularly detrimental to muscle and bone, because it triggers release of parathyroid hormone, which stimulates the bone-dissolving activity of the osteoclasts. The best ways to counter these effects when you’re dieting are to lose weight slowly (no more than a pound or two per week) and to do aerobic exercise and strength training to protect your muscles and bone mass.”

Healthy Diet

“Women who consume plenty of fruits and vegetables have higher bone density. Especially helpful for bone health are citrus fruits, which contain vitamin C, and green leafy vegetables, which provide vitamin K.”

Herbs and Medications

“I find it both frightening and puzzling that so many women reject proven drugs in favor of untested and potentially risky herbs and medications. Anecdotal reports are no substitute for scientifically conducted clinical trials. Conventional prescription and over-the-counter drugs are required to meet FDA standards of safety and efficacy; herbal medications are not. Their purity and doses are not regulated or standardized. When you swallow one of these pill or tinctures, you have no meaningful assurance that it will do what the label promises. You can’t even be sure that the medication contains the ingredients listed—or that it’s free of components you don’t want to take. I hope you will use alternative treatments very cautiously. Be sure to tell your doctor if you’re taking these or any over-the-counter drugs.”

Hormone Replacement Therapy

“… women who take hormone replacement therapy retain more teeth as they age than women who do not go on HRT or estrogen. So you can assume that your medication is helping with bone density in your jaw.”

Polypharmacy

“Do you take many different prescription medications? That’s called polypharmacy, and it’s a warning flag to balance specialists. Many studies have found a strong association—which is only partially explained by illness—between taking more than four medications and falling. Older people often are treated by several different doctors, and receive one or more prescriptions from each. Unless the physicians coordinate their efforts, the result can be unwanted side effects—including balance problems—from excessive medication or harmful drug interactions. If you’re taking more than four prescription drugs, don’t stop! But keep a master list and ask your primary doctor to review it from time to time, to see if you could cut back. Also, give a copy to each doctor who treats you.”

Shoes

“Many people (especially women) wear shoes like these, which increase the risk of falls: Platform shoes, clogs: Thick soles interfere with proprioception—your ability to feel the ground you’re walking on. Sneakers with thick treads: Though designed to give you good traction outdoors, thick treads become a hazard indoors, especially when walking on a rug.”

Weight

“Most people reach a peak body weight in their fifties and sixties, then slowly lose weight in their seventies, eighties, and nineties. Low body weight is a risk factor for osteoporosis, so it’s important not to lose too much.”

[Kareni]

What fun to see the name

4 hours ago, Robin M said:

Jayne Ann Krentz

I've been reading her books since the 1980s; you could call me a long-time fan.

Regards,

Kareni

[Kareni]

Some bookish posts ~

From the Word Wenches: Planting the Seeds of Knowledge

https://wordwenches.typepad.com/word_wenches/2020/11/planting-the-seeds-of-knowledge.html#comment-6a00d8341c84c753ef0263e9750043200b

Authors of the Classical World: 7 Musicians and the Books They Wrote

https://www.wqxr.org/story/authors-classical-world-seven-musicians-books/

REVIEW: The 99% Invisible City by Roman Mars and Kurt Kohlstedt

https://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/review-the-99-invisible-city-by-roman-mars/

Regards,

Kareni

[mumto2]

@Robin MThanks for the thread.  I read Boneshaker and a sequel maybe a couple of years ago and enjoyed them.  Another Steampunk for your challenge.

I actually did my Ladies of Lit spelling challenge last month.  I didn’t realize you hadn’t posted either!😂. I will pull out my note book and post  my list later today.

Thanks to my posts from yesterday I don’t have much new to say here.  Still reading the Verity Kent.  I have started listening to American Demon which was supposed to be an October Spooky......it just came off hold.  I am really enjoying it.  Kim Harrison finished The Hollows series off very similar to the Harry Potter series with a forward flash summarizing the past twenty or so years.  American Demon starts up where the last book truly stopped......rather like a book about Harry and Ron’s first apartment.  I wasn’t sure if I could go back and love it......

[SereneHome]

Speaking of "health" related books - I've read probably ~10-12 books over the last year, all claiming different things.  All written by MDs. I am officially done reading any and all health related books.

Started reading Secret Empires by Peter Schweizer.  Oh....very very scary book, such deep corruption in our govt! I am not sure if I'll finish it, I am depressed enough.

I think I'll just pick up Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

[Pen]

12 minutes ago, SereneHome said:

Speaking of "health" related books - I've read probably ~10-12 books over the last year, all claiming different things.  All written by MDs. I am officially done reading any and all health related books.

 

Every so so often I have heard a funny monologue that follows changes in trends- like

date Don’t use butter, substitute margarine zine; date Don’t use butter or margarine try to cook in non stick Teflon so no fat is needed-fat is bad; don’t eat eggs especially not the yolks; date don’t  use Teflon; date don’t use margarine; date do use butter; date eggs are nutritious:...

Quote

 

Started reading Secret Empires by Peter Schweizer.  Oh....very very scary book, such deep corruption in our govt! I am not sure if I'll finish it, I am depressed enough.

 

Maybe I’ll try that for my next non fiction book.

unfortunately I think there is a lot of corruption, and ignorance probably is not bliss

 

 

Fiction: currently listening to Elizabeth  Goudge’s The Scent of Water that someone on here recommended or mentioned and I am enjoying it a lot. 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 8, 2020 by Pen

[Pen]

Averaging about 20 words per day on NaNoWriMo...  

I think I need a writing inspiration book...

Edited November 8, 2020 by Pen

[Violet Crown]

Hello friends!

This week I obligingly read one of dh's favorite books, Francis Beaumont's satirical play The Knight of the Burning Pestle (1607). If the title makes you snicker, it was supposed to. Jacobean drama always reminds me how people tend to think that the arc of history is especially easy to read backwards: today we're frank about sex and violence, whereas the Victorians were prudish, and the Puritans more prudish still, and so we can just keep extrapolating backwards culturally with our three data points. But in fact the English Civil Wars and the Puritan Interregnum had a pronounced effect on English culture. There was a reason the Puritans of the 17th century promptly banned the theater, and the sex and violence of Beaumont's time never really came back.

Currently reading William Langland's great satirical allegory Piers Plowman. I've read it before in Middle English; this time I'm going through it quickly in a modernized version for Middle Girl's English course. I was going to quote a bit but MG is off somewhere with it.

[Ali in OR]

Hoping to get back to reading this week. I'm in the middle of The Stationery Shop.

[Little Green Leaves]

I read almost nothing this week. I probably chose my book badly -- let's face it, I am busy these days and it's probably not the best time to read revisionist history books about the crusades, in French. Luckily the library came to my rescue and brought me Jane Jacobs -- The Death and Life of Great American Cities. Let's see how much progress I make!

[aggieamy]

On 11/6/2020 at 11:20 AM, SereneHome said:

I have not read a page this week....not one!!

Just think how easy it will be to double your pages read this week. 

3 hours ago, negin said:

Robin, thank you, as always, for this wonderful thread. 

I read Strong Women, Strong Bones - 3 Stars - This book is full of helpful information, but it is a bit dated.

<snip> Is there too much stress in your life?”

 

HAHAHA. No ... no stress in my life. *wildly eyes John's textbooks, the dirty laundry, my own work to-do list, and the list of colleges I was supposed to start researching for Sophia* We're totally fine here. 

2 hours ago, Pen said:

Averaging about 20 words per day on NaNoWriMo...  

I think I need a writing inspiration book...

LOL. I've had those months too!

Edited November 8, 2020 by aggieamy

[Liz CA]

I am in between two Gabriel Allon books by Silva, wandering around in the desert with nothing to read. Overdrive did not time this well. OR I needed a little break from the action after I read "The Defector."

I am finishing up another Thompson book: Murder at Waverly Place. Other than that I am drinking tea and napping - and I just admitted that on a book thread!!

Edited November 9, 2020 by Liz CA

[Kareni]

31 minutes ago, Liz CA said:

Other than that I am drinking tea and napping - and I just admitted that on a book thread!!

You're in good company here though I'll likely drink hot chocolate instead of tea.

Regards,

Kareni

[mumto2]

I have my October Ladies of Lit spelling challenge prepared......I did the pen name Jayne Castle since I loved the romances that used she wrote with that pen name.

 

J........Once Dishonored by Mary Jo Putney

A........Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie

Y........You Lucky Dog by Julia London

N........Nobody’s Sweetheart by Maggie Robinson

E........How to Save an Undead Life by Hailey Edwards

 

C........Cat Me If You Can by Miranda James

A........Checked Out for Murder by Allison Brook

S........In the Shadow of the Glacier by Vicki Delaney

T........And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 

L........Queen Anne’s Lace by Susan Wittig Albert

E........A Midsummer’s Equation by Keigo Higashimo

 

[Kareni]

Earlier today I finished The Roommate  by Rosie Danan. I was trying to decide whether or not to describe this as a romance since I'm not used to romances that include a Readers guide. In any event, the book is self described as a contemporary romance. I enjoyed it, but it is definitely not for conservative readers. (Significant adult content)

"House Rules:
Do your own dishes
Knock before entering the bathroom
Never look up your roommate online
 
The Wheatons are infamous among the east coast elite for their lack of impulse control, except for their daughter Clara. She’s the consummate socialite: over-achieving, well-mannered, predictable. But every Wheaton has their weakness. When Clara’s childhood crush invites her to move cross-country, the offer is too tempting to resist. Unfortunately, it’s also too good to be true.

After a bait-and-switch, Clara finds herself sharing a lease with a charming stranger. Josh might be a bit too perceptive—not to mention handsome—for comfort, but there’s a good chance he and Clara could have survived sharing a summer sublet if she hadn’t looked him up on the Internet...
 
Once she learns how Josh has made a name for himself, Clara realizes living with him might make her the Wheaton’s most scandalous story yet. His professional prowess inspires her to take tackling the stigma against female desire into her own hands. They may not agree on much, but Josh and Clara both believe women deserve better sex. What they decide to do about it will change both of their lives, and if they’re lucky, they’ll help everyone else get lucky too."

Regards,

Kareni

[Kareni]

Some bookish posts from reddit:

Linguistic fiction recommendations

https://www.reddit.com/r/linguistics/comments/ijp7sg/linguistic_fiction_recommendations/?sort=new

 

I'd like to read your favorite book. (There are over 1000 comments.)

https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/idmg9i/id_like_to_read_your_favorite_book/

 

I want Poisoners, Alchemists, Herbalists, Apothecaries, “Wise Women,” anything that’s remotely in this category, genre open to fantasy and historical. Romance plots always a plus

https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/ilvvvj/i_want_poisoners_alchemists_herbalists/

 

Your favourite non-fantasy books you’ve read this year

https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/ia8kfo/your_favourite_nonfantasy_books_youve_read_this/

Regards,

Kareni

[Pen]

Finished The Scent of Water !

 

 

[Robin M]

On 11/8/2020 at 1:05 PM, Dreamergal said:

The name Jayne Ann Krentz sounds familiar, might have read a few but I was more Nora Roberts alias J D Robb when I was a regular reader of them. 

Love basically anything Nora Roberts writes as well as her alter ego J.D. Robb with her In Death series. Have read it several times.  Nora always resets my reading and writing palate so I have a tendency to reread her books more so than other authors. 

 

On 11/8/2020 at 6:35 PM, Liz CA said:

Other than that I am drinking tea and napping - and I just admitted that on a book thread!!

Hee Hee.  Yep, napping is another past time for me as well. 

 

On 11/8/2020 at 2:59 PM, aggieamy said:

HAHAHA. No ... no stress in my life. *wildly eyes John's textbooks, the dirty laundry, my own work to-do list, and the list of colleges I was supposed to start researching for Sophia* We're totally fine here.

Hugs!  Your assistant needs an assistant who you can delegate too.  "Research these colleges, darling, and get back to me with the top three. There's a good dear."  😁  Yep, I have quite a few things piling up on my desk I should be doing.  I need to make a list. 

[Violet Crown]

Book Friends,

After many years of posting at TWTM, I think it's time to be done. I didn't just want to disappear from Book a Week, though. Robin, thank you for your years of keeping this thread going.

[Robin M]

Interweb wonderings:

The Secret Life of Trees

Mary Wollstonecraft finally honoured with statue after 200 years -- Good intentions and all that, but If it were me, I would be turning over in my grave. How embarrassing.

All the New Fantasy Books Arriving in November!

November 2020 Paranormal Romance Titles -- Can't wait: so many favorite authors.

A Victorian Era Mystery Novel That Will Leave You Hopelessly Enchanted  Lookie, lookie @aggieamy and @mumto2

Souvankham Thammavongsa has won the 2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize

😘.

[Kareni]

1 hour ago, Violet Crown said:

After many years of posting at TWTM, I think it's time to be done.

I will miss you and your dry wit, Violet Crown. I wish you every happiness.

Regards,

Kareni

[Matryoshka]

1 hour ago, Robin M said:

IMary Wollstonecraft finally honoured with statue after 200 years -- Good intentions and all that, but If it were me, I would be turning over in my grave. How embarrassing.

Oh, my.  That's pretty much as bad as the horrific "I Love Lucy" statue.  At least they re-did that one (this is the original - it's gone, thank heavens)...

[Kareni]

Yesterday I finished the contemporary romance Well Met by Jen DeLuca; it was an enjoyable read.

"Emily knew there would be strings attached when she relocated to the small town of Willow Creek, Maryland, for the summer to help her sister recover from an accident, but who could anticipate getting roped into volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire alongside her teenaged niece? Or that the irritating and inscrutable schoolteacher in charge of the volunteers would be so annoying that she finds it impossible to stop thinking about him?

The faire is Simon's family legacy and from the start he makes clear he doesn't have time for Emily's lighthearted approach to life, her oddball Shakespeare conspiracy theories, or her endless suggestions for new acts to shake things up. Yet on the faire grounds he becomes a different person, flirting freely with Emily when she's in her revealing wench's costume. But is this attraction real, or just part of the characters they're portraying?

This summer was only ever supposed to be a pit stop on the way to somewhere else for Emily, but soon she can't seem to shake the fantasy of establishing something more with Simon or a permanent home of her own in Willow Creek."

Regards,

Kareni

[mumto2]

1 hour ago, Robin M said:

Interweb wonderings:

The Secret Life of Trees

Mary Wollstonecraft finally honoured with statue after 200 years -- Good intentions and all that, but If it were me, I would be turning over in my grave. How embarrassing.

All the New Fantasy Books Arriving in November!

November 2020 Paranormal Romance Titles -- Can't wait: so many favorite authors.

A Victorian Era Mystery Novel That Will Leave You Hopelessly Enchanted  Lookie, lookie @aggieamy and @mumto2

Souvankham Thammavongsa has won the 2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize

😘.

Things in Jars looks great @Robin M  I just put a hold on it.

[Penguin]

@Violet Crown I hope that things are ok with you, and that you just feel the need to move on. I hope that nothing happened on the WTM forums that made it an unpleasant space for you. I hope you know that you have friends here, and that you will be deeply missed. I even selfishly dare to hope that you will change your mind, or feel inclined to return to this thread at some later point. I learn a lot from you and enjoy your presence. Many thanks for not just disappearing. 

[Kareni]

Some currently FREE books for Kindle readers ~

This definitely sounds out of the ordinary!: YETI YULETIDE: A Christmas Romance (A Victorian Secret Romance Book 2)  

Ticket to Forever (Love in Transit Book 1)

Francine and the Art of Transformation

Regards,

Kareni

[Shawneinfl]

I finished The Lincoln Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer today. Great book about the foiled assassination attempt before our 16th president was inaugurated.

[Kareni]

Yesterday I finished a novella which I enjoyed. This was Winner: Best Novella of 2017, Romance Writers of America, Erotic Romance Chapter, so it's definitely NOT for conservative readers.

Written on His Skin by Simone Stark

"Letters are magic, don't you think?

You could be anyone. I could be anyone.
And then, suddenly, we're more than anyone.
We're someone...

When Abigail Trent agreed to write a letter to a soldier deployed overseas, she expected it to be a fleeting exchange. A friendly back-and-forth that ended barely after it began. She didn't expect Theodore LaRoux....."

Regards,

Kareni

[Junie]

41 minutes ago, Kareni said:

Yesterday I finished a novella which I enjoyed. This was Winner: Best Novella of 2017, Romance Writers of America, Erotic Romance Chapter, so it's definitely NOT for conservative readers.

Written on His Skin by Simone Stark

"Letters are magic, don't you think?

You could be anyone. I could be anyone.
And then, suddenly, we're more than anyone.
We're someone...

When Abigail Trent agreed to write a letter to a soldier deployed overseas, she expected it to be a fleeting exchange. A friendly back-and-forth that ended barely after it began. She didn't expect Theodore LaRoux....."

Regards,

Kareni

This is how my in-laws met. :)  FIL was in Korea and received a letter...

And sort of how my own parents met.  My father had been exchanging letters with a woman from Pennsylvania while he was in Vietnam.  When he returned to the states, he went to Pennsylvania to meet her.  Things with her didn't work out, but while he was there he met my mother...

[Robin M]

28 minutes ago, Junie said:

This is how my in-laws met. 🙂 FIL was in Korea and received a letter...

And sort of how my own parents met.  My father had been exchanging letters with a woman from Pennsylvania while he was in Vietnam.  When he returned to the states, he went to Pennsylvania to meet her.  Things with her didn't work out, but while he was there he met my mother...

That is so neat that things worked out that way for your parents. What a wonderful meet story for your parents. 

1 hour ago, Shawneinfl said:

I finished The Lincoln Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer today. Great book about the foiled assassination attempt before our 16th president was inaugurated.

I'll have to check it out.  I enjoy Brad Meltzer's writings. I've read a few of his thrillers. Will have to dip back into one of his books soon. 

 

On 11/10/2020 at 10:59 AM, Matryoshka said:

Oh, my.  That's pretty much as bad as the horrific "I Love Lucy" statue.  At least they re-did that one (this is the original - it's gone, thank heavens)...

Yeash! That's awful. My hubby said it's a cross between Desi and Luci.  Glad to see the replacement was 100 times better. 

 

On 11/10/2020 at 9:35 AM, Violet Crown said:

Book Friends,

After many years of posting at TWTM, I think it's time to be done. I didn't just want to disappear from Book a Week, though. Robin, thank you for your years of keeping this thread going.

We will miss you and hope you find time to drop by from time to time.  

 

On 11/8/2020 at 7:11 PM, mumto2 said:

J........Once Dishonored by Mary Jo Putney

A........Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie

Y........You Lucky Dog by Julia London

N........Nobody’s Sweetheart by Maggie Robinson

E........How to Save an Undead Life by Hailey Edwards

 

C........Cat Me If You Can by Miranda James

A........Checked Out for Murder by Allison Brook

S........In the Shadow of the Glacier by Vicki Delaney

T........And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 

L........Queen Anne’s Lace by Susan Wittig Albert

E........A Midsummer’s Equation by Keigo Higashimo

Woot Woot! You are amazing. I still have yet to read Higashimo. Have to add him to my try him out list. 

[Robin M]

Hey, It's mid November and you know what that means. I started giving some thought to next year's bingo.   Any genres, books, authors, readalongs, ideas for our monthly bookology?

What books are on your wish list, want list that you'd really like to read. 

What is something you've been wanting to learn but haven't gotten around to it. 

Time to brainstorm.

😘  

[Kareni]

13 hours ago, Junie said:

This is how my in-laws met. :)  FIL was in Korea and received a letter...

And sort of how my own parents met.  My father had been exchanging letters with a woman from Pennsylvania while he was in Vietnam.  When he returned to the states, he went to Pennsylvania to meet her.  Things with her didn't work out, but while he was there he met my mother...

What great stories, Junie! (Perhaps you should write a book....)

Regards,

Kareni

[Junie]

10 minutes ago, Kareni said:

What great stories, Junie! (Perhaps you should write a book....)

Regards,

Kareni

I would love to write... someday.

I have to get a few more kids graduated first. :)

[mumto2]

I believe both @Robin M and @melmichigan have finished the latest book in The Hollows series American Demon........today I got to the Dallas tv show moment......the previous happy ending was all a dream.  I hope the next book is going to be released soon!

[Kareni]

Several recent reads ~

I quite enjoyed Refuge: An Intergalactic Space Opera Series (Tradepoint Saga Book 1) by JJ Blacklocke and look forward to reading the next book in the series which is due in January. The only downside was that there were a few too many tears (in the book, not from me!). This book would be fine for teens as well as adults. It's currently selling for 99¢ for Kindle readers.

"A Dangerous Haven. Adapt or die.

Nine hundred Vennans undertake a cultural exchange to Tradepoint, a space station where aliens from different worlds meet to do business. A young and gyfted Speaker, Gredin, is translator and diplomat for the happy occasion.

But a horrific vision shatters her first night’s sleep on Tradepoint. Venna, their homeworld, has been destroyed. Now the safety of the delegation, the only Vennans left in all of time and space, rests on Gredin’s young shoulders.

Stunned and grieving, she navigates trade wars and political prejudice, bartering with other races—some friendly, some neutral, some outright hostile—for what her people need to survive. And the cost of failure is the unthinkable.

Extinction."
**

The previous book inspired me to read the free prequel which I obtained by signing up for the author's newsletter. If interested, go to www.jjblacklocke.com

Venna (Tradepoint Saga, Prequel) by JJ Blacklocke

**

it was ama****I then read with pleasure Michelle Diener's new novella, The Rising Wave, which is available in the 1351 page multi author anthology Warlords, Witches and Wolves: A Fantasy Realms Anthology. Said anthology is currently selling for 99¢ for Kindle readers.

Interestingly, you can read the entire novella by downloading a sample of the anthology. The Rising Wave is a prequel to a forthcoming fantasy series by the author.

**

I also read and enjoyed  Glass Tidings: A MM Holiday Romance
by Amy Jo Cousins; this story had more depth than many other stories I've recently read. It is yet another 99¢ deal for Kindle readers. (Adult content)

 

"Eddie Rodrigues doesn’t stay in one place long enough to get attached. The only time he broke that rule, things went south fast. Now he’s on the road again, with barely enough cash in his pocket to hop a bus to Texas after his (sort-of-stolen) car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, Midwest, USA.

He’s fine. He’ll manage. Until he watches that girl get hit by a car and left to die.

Local shop owner Grayson Croft isn’t in the habit of doing people any favors. But even a recluse can’t avoid everyone in a town as small as Clear Lake. And when the cop who played Juliet to your Romeo in the high school play asks you to put up her key witness for the night, you say yes.

Now Gray’s got a grouchy glass artist stomping around his big, empty house, and it turns out that he . . . maybe . . . kind of . . . likes the company.

But Eddie Rodrigues never sticks around.

Unless a Christmas shop owner who hates the season can show an orphan what it means to have family for the holidays."

 

Regards,

Kareni

[Kareni]

Currently free for Kindle readers ~

A Ferry of Bones & Gold  by Hailey Turner

Autumn Collection (A Timeless Romance Anthology Book 4) by various authors

 

Meatloaf And Mistletoe: A Small Town Diner Christmas Romance Novel (Bells Pass Book 1) by Katie Mettner

Regards,

Kareni

[Robin M]

I finished Amanda Quicks's The Girl Who Knew Too Much and thoroughly enjoyed it. It took place I think in the mid 30's pre computers and cell phones and when the movie studios protected their stars and took care of their problems in a final way.  Great read and I'll probably read more in the series. 

Read Shona Husk's The Goblin King which I thought I had already read and if I did, completely forgot everything.  Quite good.

"A man was cursed to the Shadowlands, his heart replaced with a cold lump of gold. In legends he became known as The Goblin King. 
For a favored few he will grant a wish. Yet, desperately clinging to his waning human soul, his one own desire remains unfulfilled: A Willing Queen.
But who would consent to move from the modern-day world into the realm of nightmares? No matter how intoxicating his touch, no matter how deep his valor, loving him is dangerous. And the one woman who might dare to try could also destroy him forever. "

Decided to read the next book in the series,  Kiss of the Goblin Prince  who seems more like an antihero than anything else. 

"He is like a prince in a fairy tale: tall, outrageously handsome, and way too dark for her own good. Amanda has been hurt before, though. And with her daughter's illness, the last thing she needs right now is a man. But the power of Dai King is hard to resist. And when he threads his hands through her hair and pulls her in for a kiss, there is no denying it feels achingly right.

After being trapped in the Shadowlands for centuries with the goblin horde a constant threat, Dai revels in his newfound freedom back in the human realm. But even with the centuries of magic he's accumulated, he still doesn't know how to heal Amanda's daughter--and it breaks his heart. Yet for the woman he loves, he'd risk anything...including a retun to the Shadowlands."

 

 

[Robin M]

18 hours ago, mumto2 said:

I believe both @Robin M and @melmichigan have finished the latest book in The Hollows series American Demon........today I got to the Dallas tv show moment......the previous happy ending was all a dream.  I hope the next book is going to be released soon!

Eeh gads, like Dallas and the dream.  I was so mad at that show, yelling at the tv and the characters.  How dare they! 😁  I miss watching Knots Landing more so than I do Dallas.  

Erm, I have no idea where I am in the series. I keep stopping and starting over so I'm quite behind. 😋

[mumto2]

4 hours ago, Robin M said:

Eeh gads, like Dallas and the dream.  I was so mad at that show, yelling at the tv and the characters.  How dare they! 😁  I miss watching Knots Landing more so than I do Dallas.  

Erm, I have no idea where I am in the series. I keep stopping and starting over so I'm quite behind. 😋

Oh yeah,  it was such a bummer when Dallas did that!  In American Demon it might just preserve of suspense for the future.  It was literally one sentence.  Falcon Crest was my personal favorite.😉

I also finished the forth in the Mistress of the Art of Death series by Ariana Franklin and her daughter(I think).  I set Murderous Procession  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8695473-a-murderous-procession  to the side a few years ago so I could read it before continuing on the the final book in the series that was just released.  I wanted to preserve some continuity ........this is a series that many people recommended to me over the years.  When I finally got around to reading it I had to agree that it really is an awesome series. Set when King Henry 2 was king so all the Thomas Becket, Queen Eleanor, and the horrid sons feature prominently.  At the start of the series we meet a young female physician (trained in Sicily) who was sent to England with her assistant a moorish eunuch.  these books can be rather violently descriptive at times......Pillars of the Earth level.  I have the final book Death and the Maiden ready to go!  Going into my “Henry and his kin” 10x10.

[Kareni]

Here is another book that is free for Kindle readers ~

Count Your Blessings: A Novella (Blessings, Georgia Book 0) by Sharon Sala

Also

A Season of Love: A Christmas Anthology by Carla Kelly

@mumto2, is this a new one for your collection?

Regards,

Kareni

[mumto2]

@Kareni A Season of Love is new!  I also happen to enjoy the Blessings Georgia series and have not read the novella so I downloaded that also.  Thank you!

Today hasn’t been very productive on any front.  Not sure why.  I abandoned a couple of books late last night and have started reading a Grace Burrows which I am enjoying.  My Heart’s True Delight is a bit different as the main male character suffers from the “blue devils” which is such a British illness description.  He suffers from depression from the sounds of it.......I am always entertained with the illness descriptions in my other home country.  Dh and I learned to just ask for the symptoms because the chill sickness(norovirus) and other odd descriptions confuse us.  We just want to know if we are apt to catch it!

Edited November 15, 2020 by mumto2

[Robin M]

On 11/12/2020 at 2:14 PM, Dreamergal said:

I think I will start with a book each from a country of the Commonwealth which is former British colonies 

https://thecommonwealth.org/member-countries

This is 54 Countries in Total and hits a large portion of the world.

What a wonderful idea! I wasn't aware of the commonwealth countries and will present some great armchair travels. In previous years we have traveled by train, plane, car,  boat around the world and on foot   backpacking across the continents.  Maybe it's time for another trip around the world. 

Edited November 15, 2020 by Robin M

[Negin]

Kindle book on sale today for those who enjoy short stories. 

[Robin M]

Link to week 46 - please continue conversation in new thread