Musings on Romance

August Reads

I thought I’d try something new and post my reads for the month.  Let’s see how long it lasts!!

On paper/ebook

 Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill – B

It felt like part one of a story rather than a whole book but I did like the story and the style and I want to know more about Merit and Ethan so books 2 and 3 are on their way to me.

Aint Too Proud to Beg by Susan Donovan – C

I’ve had this one on my TBR for a while.  It was a bit disappointing overall.  Okay but not great.  Knock Me Off My Feet was great, so was Public Displays of Affection, but this one?  Not so much for me.

The Shy Bride by Lucy Monroe – B-/C+

I like the way Ms. Monroe writes her categories.  This one could have benefited from a little more exposition I thought.

Midnight Angel by Lisa Marie Rice – B-

Probably the best of the Midnight trilogy, for my money.

Take Your Pick by Jasmine Haynes – B-

Saucy, sexy novella but it lacked something in the character development area.

Shades of Gray by Brooke McKinley – A
My pick for the month.  A great book. Highly recommended.

Love Bites by Lynsey Sands – C+

I was expecting funnier I guess but an okay read overall.  I might pick up others in the series and give them a go.

Masked by Moonlight by Nancy Gideon – C+

I found this one very hard to grade.  I liked Max but his character was a bit schizophrenic in that he was either this suave “Roarke” type character or a frightened boy and I didn’t quite get how they fit together.  CeeCee was annoying and the plot had holes so I’m still uncertain about picking up the next 2 in the series.  Having said that, it was strangely compelling and I didn’t have any trouble finishing it. Hmm.

Ex Appeal by Cari Quinn – C-

Okay short, but really?  Meh.

More by Sloan Parker – B

I enjoyed the relationship between the 3 men but thought the suspense plot (while necessary to the story, over the top and the villian too one-dimensional.

And Call Me In The Morning by Willa Okati – B+

A really good m/m romance – heavy on the romance and characters while not lacking in, ahem, other departments (*wink wink*).  Thanks for the rec Kris!

Beyond the Night by Joss Ware – B

Interesting premise and marked my reading return to paranormals from a lengthy hiatus.

Embrace the Night Eternal by Joss Ware – B

I liked Simon and the Falling Creek community certainly got me thinking.  I’m not sure I buy the Atlantis thing though…  I have book 3 and plan to read it one of these days.

Gay Best Friend by Kim Dare – C+

Okay short. I didn’t really get the D/s though – I thought it would have been a better story (for its length) without it.  Otherwise, it needed a longer format, IMO.

Priority One by Stephani Hecht – B-

Good short but it felt like the middle was missing.  We jumped from first meeting to HEA – I know there was a middle but it wasn’t in the book, sadly.  I would have liked to read more about this couple – another chapter or two would have made a big difference here.

On Audio
Manhunting by Jenny Crusie and narrated by Renee Raudman  – B+/A-

Highly recommended

Anyone but You by Jenny Crusie and narrated by Susan Ericksen – B

Great book but I kept hearing Eve Dallas (Susan narrates all the in death books) and that threw me a little out of the story from time to time.

Breathing Room by Susan Elizabeth Phillips and narrated by Kate Fleming (aka Anna Fields). – A

An excellent book, excellently presented. This was my first SEP read and it holds a soft spot for me.  I love Ren Gage!!  Plus the banter between Isabel and Ren was made even better by this great narrator.

Fast Women by Jenny Crusie narrated by Sandra Burr – B+

Great story – that scene where Nell realises she’s slept with everyone at the table except for Tim’s new wife is still hilarious.  Plus there’s, “brace yourself Bridget”. Cracks me up.

The Search by Nora Roberts narrated by Tanya Eby – B+/A-

New to me narrator – she’s really good.  I’ve read the story too and not all that long ago – a great book, narrated really well to add more to the story.  I do like Simon!

6 Comments

  1. Anja

    Wow. 19 read. I thought I did well with 17. I wish I could read 30/month so I can get my TBR down. Some months I buy as many as I read.Joss Ware's third book is the best yet. I love this series.

  2. Kaetrin

    Actually, I just realised I missed one out so I've edited the post to add in the missing book. Some of the books were only short stories so it's not quite as good as it looks!As for buying as many as I read – I'm with you there – my TBR pile keeps growing no matter what I do.

  3. Lori

    Wow – great reading month for you!Breathing Room was my first SEP, too! I loved it!And I agree, I like Lucy Monroe's categories. I also love her single title contemps.

  4. Kaetrin

    @ Lori – apparently we are in the minority re SEP – for some reason I totally don't understand, Breathing Room isn't all that popular. Go figure. 🙂

  5. Kris

    Am really glad that you liked 'And Call Me In The Morning', Kaetrin. 🙂 It's such a great read about mature men falling in love.

  6. Kaetrin

    @ Kris – I did like And Call Me In the Morning. It took me a while to work out that both men had had no m/m experience before – I thought that one had and one had not but I worked it out eventually. I liked these guys quite a bit – I thought the ending let the story down a bit – a little melodramatic and I don't think H#1 would have done his career any favours mucking around with the job offer like that, but… I surely did like the book. thx for the rec! (and thx for visiting my humble little blog *blushes* … another milestone reached!!)

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