Pages

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Book Reviews and Recommendations

Just taking a break from my day job to recommend checking out Lena Matthews' works. I've read two of her books so far, (one last night) and am anxiously waiting for tomorrow's release of another: Stud Muffin. Her heroines are funny, flawed and realistic: not perfect, often a little overweight, and genuinely likeable. Like her heroines, her heroes are often not perfect either, but they are always sexy and appealing. If you haven't read her works before, hie thee to her website!

I was also recently in the grocery store and came across a regency romance in the bargain bin. It's been many years since I've read one, and so I thought, "why not?" I'm glad I did. The book is an older one (released 1992) by Laura Kinsale, called "Flowers from the Storm." Not your typical regency romance. Once again, we have flawed, yet fascinating characters in one of the most touching stories I've read in a long time. It belonged on the book shelf in a place of honor, not in the bargain bin.

I've also recently read "The Turning" by Jennifer Armintrout, and "Forbidden Magic" by Cheyenne McCray. Two exciting, fun, sexy paranormals with strong female characters and "make-you-wish-they-were-real" alpha males - can't wait for their sequels!

For more paranormal reads, if you (or your children) like the Harry Potter series, you might enjoy "So You Want to Be a Wizard" by Diane Duane. This book first came out in 1983 (a decade before Harry) and was re-released in 1996. (I'm assuming to jump onto the fast-rolling wizard bandwagon at the time.) Some of the concepts are presented in slightly more complicated language than Rowling's, but it is still a fun read.

And if you like fun, I'd also recommend just about anything by Jasper Fforde - his "Thursday Next" detective series are a hoot. But speaking of fun, this post just wouldn't be complete without a plug for Mackenzie McKade, who is just as fun and talented as any of the characters she writes. Her writing is imaginative, sexy and fresh. Check her out! :)

6 comments:

  1. Thanks for all the recommendations, Kate. I'm a Thursday Next fan myself. The series is wonderfully off the wall.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Isn't it though? I just read that he's coming out with a new series based on fairy tales, which looks like it will be as fun as the others. While I do enjoy literary fiction, a good dose of silliness (and sometimes sex ;) never hurts. Oh, and magic - lots of magic!
    Hence, my recommendations today were for books about fun, sex, romance, and magic - sometimes all in one book - what's not to like? :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Not sure how fast the "wizard bandwagon" would have been rolling in 1996, as -- despite some pre-pub buzz which didn't seem to make publishers rush out to buy more YA fantasy -- HP and the Philosopher's Stone wasn't published in the UK until 1997 and in the US in 1998. So You Want To...'s republication was in process in early 1995: for that you can thank Jane Yolen, who started the work of bringing the books back into print soon after she arrived at Magic Carpet Books.

    Not that JKR hasn't helped, of course... :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kate,

    Thanks for recommending my work. October Moon sounds GREAT. I can't wait to read it.

    Lena

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks, Lena! :) By the way - loved "Stud Muffin Wanted."

    ReplyDelete

Say what you will...