What I Read Since Last Week

Well, it looks like I will NOT be making that trip to Atlanta for RWA after all, since “Ghostly Liaison” did not final in the Golden Heart contest. Have to say, it made for a depressing afternoon, so I spent it reading. Besides I had to finish that last book so I can read “Lover at Last,” that is as soon as my daughter finishes it (and according to her, that should have been sometime last night).

As always, I do not spoil the book in my gushes or rants! Here is what I read last week:

Mar 21: “The Temperate Warrior” by Renee Vincent. This is an historical romance (set in 923 AD Norway). Blurb on back of book (in blue): Gustaf Raeliksen lives by the blade of his sword. After avenging his father’s murder and reuniting with his family, he wants nothing more than to settle down and have sons of his own. Only one woman will do--a fiery redhead he saved from the spoils of war. No longer forced to warm the beds of the men who’ve taken everything from her, Aesa has nothing to offer the noble warrior but her heart. When someone with a deep score to settle seeks revenge upon her, Gustaf’s world is torn asunder. He has but one vow--saving the woman he loves from the ignorant fool who dared to best the temperate warrior. These characters were mentioned in her Emerald Isle Trilogy, but you do not need to have read those to read this (in other words--you won’t be confused). I really enjoyed this story, as I have enjoyed all of her stories (and I’m not a huge historical fan). I just love the way she writes. I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads.

Mar 22: “Absolution” by Susannah Sandlin. This is a paranormal romance, the second book in the Penton Legacy series. Blurb on back (in blue): Mirren Kincaid remembers the vampire he used to be--and he’s not going back. As the Slayer, Mirren served the Vampire Tribunal as its most creative and ruthless executioner. Then he refused a kill order and eventually found himself the protector and second-in-command of the peaceful enclave of Penton, Alabama. As civil war threatens to break out in the vampire world over the scarcity of untainted human blood, the Tribunal wants its slayer back--and has sent a beautiful witch to retrieve him. Descended from a powerful shaman, Glory Cummings is meant to restore Mirren to his bloodthirsty ways as the Tribunal’s assassin. But Glory doesn’t see a killer when she looks at Mirren; she sees a vampire haunted by his past. Though her mission is to turn him into a monster, she hopes her magic touch can heal the man she’s suddenly falling for. But the Tribunal has never looked kindly upon defiance. As you can tell by the dates, I zipped right through this one. Sure, it helped I had a few hours to kill while waiting for my husband to teach his class, but I have a feeling it wouldn’t have mattered. I just didn’t want to put this book down. This is one series I absolutely love and I’m sad to say I don’t have the third in my hands (although it is on order). This author knows how to hook me! I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads.

Mar 26: “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen. This is labeled simply as fiction. Blurb from Barnes & Noble (in blue): Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell. Jacob was there because his luck had run out—orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive "ship of fools." It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act—in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival. I saw the movie and really liked it. My daughter said she had the book. I told her I wanted to read it. It had been sitting on my shelf ever since, because other books caught my eye first. But I finally got around to reading this and man, did I enjoy it! I especially loved Jacob (and the story is told in his POV--first person). I read the last 150 pages on a day I was kind of depressed, and it was just what I needed. I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads.

Three books - whoo hoo! Next week I'll possibly only list one. I will read “Lover at Last,” but I also have my second round of edits due back on April 15th. So reading will be at a minimum (after I read the Lover book, of course) until I get this round back to my editor (I just love having one of those!).

Are you getting lots of books read? Any of these sound good to you?