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Loose Ends by Tara Janzen (romantic suspense)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

You know, I surprised myself when I ended up buying LOOSE ENDS. I loved the first few books in the Steele Street series, then some head-spinning WTF plots in the following books meant that I stopped buying them a few years ago. But having discovered this was the final Steele Street book, I found myself intrigued as to how Tara Janzen would wrap up the series and welcome home the (missing, presumed dead) final member of the crew.

There are paranormal elements, so be warned, this isn’t a straight contemporary romantic suspense (which is a shame, because the SF-ish twists didn’t really work for me). But in the end, I enjoyed this, though readers that have followed the entire series would probably have found LOOSE ENDS more satisfying than I did.

Tara Janzen has a knack for writing male dialogue that has this authentic ring to it and even though it has been years, I loved seeing Superman, Kid Chronopolous & the rest of the Steele Street special ops team back together again. The cars, well ahhh… I’m not into cars by any means (I’m happy as long as they get me from A to B), but the passion Janzen (and her characters) had for them added a fun and sexy dimension to the story.

One of my very first reviews on this blog (all the way back in 2007) was for Tara Janzen‘s CRAZY SWEET (no, I didn’t care for it).  So this was a slightly nostalgic read for me and I’m glad the series ended on a decent note.

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Prey by Linda Howard

My rating: 1 of 5 stars (romantic suspense)

I’ve loved some of Linda Howard’s backlist, which is probably why I’m still reading her recent releases. But this was just boring. I’m normally a fan of survival/wilderness stories, but I skimmed a lot in this one – neither the plot nor the characters captured my attention. And when we got the POV of the bear… oh dear.

I borrowed this from the library – thank goodness.  I keep on picking up her new releases just in case the magic of her earlier books makes a reappearance, but I have generally been disappointed. 

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Mummy Dearest by Josh Lanyon (m/m romance)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I didn’t fall in love with this novella. Don’t get me wrong, I finished it in one sitting (it’s a Lanyon after all!), but the story was too short for me to connect with the h/h. Having said that, I loved the writing as always, and I’d definitely read more books in this series.

Josh Lanyon is an autobuy author for me, but this one wasn’t one of my favourites.  

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Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (YA romance)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVED THIS BOOK. Is that enough?

After the wonderful surprise that was Anna and the French Kiss, I was doing my best to temper my expectations. And it helped that the back cover copy didn’t exactly make me want to rush out and buy LOLA.

But Lola herself was a intriguing mix of insecurities and confidence, and before I knew it, I was caught up in her story. I loved how Stephanie Perkins integrated Lola’s love of costumes into her personality. Cricket was really sweet and lovable, so nice(!) – which, you know, isn’t exactly the norm for a romantic lead. But it worked – totally. I was rooting for them as they fumbled their way back together. The positive depiction of non-traditional families was a lovely unexpected plus, and the San Francisco setting made me want to go and visit. And oh, I did a slight squee as Anna and St Clair made an appearance – it was really interesting seeing them again, and this time from someone else’s perspective. Very cool.

I think the difference between ANNA and LOLA was that I could identify with Anna’s experience – Lola’s was slightly more distancing for me. But I loved every minute of reading this, and all I can say is bring on the third book, Isla and the Happily Ever After.

This was one of my favourite books of 2011.  Stephanie Perkins’ books are amongst the best that the YA romance genre offers, IMO.

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Dead Run by Josh Lanyon (m/m romance)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Adrien English will always be my all-time favourite Josh Lanyon series, but I have to say Dangerous Ground is rapidly making up ground on the AE books. I am dying to see where this series is going – or rather, when and how Will and Taylor get their HEA.

The Paris setting intruded slightly (a bit of a travelogue at times?), but the characters were beautifully drawn and leapt off the page. It’s sort of painful because Will and Taylor are fumbling around in their still new-ish relationship and hurting each other, sometimes on purpose but more often than not by accident. You just want to shake them at times. Possibly Will more than Taylor. But you know, I’ve a feeling the final pay-off will be worth it. <spoiler – highlight to read>I’m a sucker for the amnesia trope and I loved how this was played out in DEAD RUN. </spoiler>

I just want more.

Ah, the angst.  I love Will and Taylor.

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Courtney Milan put up a post about royalties received from her self-published v. traditionally published novellas so far – fascinating reading.  Ebooks have completely changed the publishing landscape from where it was a few years ago.

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Congratulations to Mary Jo Putney on her marriage – I loved her wedding post and pictures @ Word Wenches.

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Kristin Cashore answers some BITTERBLUE questions on her blog – be warned as there are spoilers about GRACELING, but I definitely appreciate the thought she put into the answers.

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John Scalzi puts up a thought-provoking post about straight white males and umm… privilege – having just read (and loved) Ernest Cline‘s READY PLAYER ONE, it was an interesting (and timely to me) analogy he chose to use (and comments are worth reading too).

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Sourcebooks’ Discover a New Love is doing a cover vote for the re-release of Patricia Rice‘s MUST BE MAGIC historical romance – both options based on very different concepts.  I’m not massively keen on either (the elements in the non-traditional option don’t feel cohesive enough, while the more period version is on the boring side), but if pushed, would probably go for the second.

Speaking of Discover a New Love, has anyone signed up for their monthly subscription package?  I was briefly tempted, but not all their books would be available to international readers, and I wasn’t sure if the more limited selection would work for me.

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Meljean Brook has had a website redesign and is giving away ten copies of THE IRON DUKE (UK edition) to celebrate (and for feedback on the new website) – I read this earlier in the year and was completely caught up in the world she created.

She’s also put up the UK cover for the third book, RIVETED, which is out later this year – I love.  I’m really pleased these books are being released in the UK as well.

But new releases always cheer me up – here are the ones I’m reading in May.

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Kristin Cashore‘s BITTERBLUE (fantasy): This is the final book in Kristin Cashore’s loosely-connected trilogy, and well, I loved it.  The reception has not been all positive – there appears to be a healthy mix of opinions on this book, but for me, it was the sort of story that held me completely enthralled.  Ms Cashore’s also put up some pre-BITTERBLUE letters on her blog (warning: spoilers for the first book GRACELING), which was a nice bonus!

Blurb:

Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.

Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart.

Out now (excerpt)

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Charlaine Harris‘s DEADLOCKED (urban fantasy): The penultimate Sookie Stackhouse book, IIRC.  I’ve not felt the urge to run out and buy it yet – I’ve been holding off and waiting for reviews, and to be honest, it’s looking like the library for me.  Still, it is a Sookie book, so I’ll end up reading it eventually.

Blurb:

With Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), in town, it’s the worst possible time for a body to show up in Eric Northman’s front yard—especially the body of a woman whose blood he just drank.

Now, it’s up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl’s fate has nothing to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she would ever suspect, who’s out to make Sookie’s world come crashing down.

Out now (excerpt)

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Jordan Castillo Price‘s MNEVERMIND 1: THE PERSISTENCE OF MEMORY (m/m romance): Jordan Castillo Price is an autobuy author for me. I’ve no idea what this book is about, but I know it’ll be good.

Blurb:

Every day, Daniel Schroeder breaks his father’s heart.

While forgetting your problems won’t solve them, it does seem like it would make life a heck of a lot easier. Daniel thought so once. Now he knows better. He and Big Dan have always been close, which makes it all the more difficult to break the daily news: the last five years were nothing like his father remembers.

They’re both professionals in the memory field—they even run their own memory palace. So shouldn’t they be able to figure out a way to overwrite the persistent false memory that’s wreaking havoc on both of their lives? Daniel thought he was holding it together, but the situation seems to be sliding out of control. Now even his own equipment has turned against him, reminding him he hasn’t had a date in ages by taunting him with flashes of an elusive man in black that only he can see.

Is it some quirk of the circuitry, or is Daniel headed down the same path to fantasy-land as his old man?

Out now (excerpt)

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Carla Kelly‘s MARRIAGE OF MERCY (historical romance): It’s been a while since I’ve read a full-length Carla Kelly novel.  Or a newly-released one, come to that – I’ve been reading her re-released short story backlist mostly.  The author hates the title and wanted it called CHOOSING ROB INMAN - I’ve seen worse titles!

Blurb:

MARRYING THE WRONG GROOM… From riches to rags, Grace has had to swallow her pride and get a job as a baker.

But everything changes when she’s the beneficiary of a surprise inheritance. Her benefactor’s deal comes with a catch: give up her life of toil and live in luxury only if she marries his illegitimate son, a prisoner of war. It’s an offer she can’t afford to refuse. But her husband-to-be is dying, and he begs her to take one of his men instead-to marry purely out of mercy….

A marriage of convenience with a complete stranger…Could this arrangement ever work?

Out May 22 (excerpt)

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Lynn Flewelling‘s CASKET OF SOULS (fantasy): It has been a while since the last Nightrunner book, so I’m looking forward to this new one.  I remember when I read the first few books, and gay protagonists were such a ground-breaking concept – now, (almost) no one blinks.  Progress.  And she tells a good story.

Blurb:

More than the dissolute noblemen they appear to be, Alec and Seregil are skillful spies, dedicated to serving queen and country. But when they stumble across evidence of a plot pitting Queen Phoria against Princess Klia, the two Nightrunners will find their loyalties torn as never before. Even at the best of times, the royal court at Rhíminee is a serpents’ nest of intrigue, but with the war against Plenimar going badly, treason simmers just below the surface.

And that’s not all that poses a threat: A mysterious plague is spreading through the crowded streets of the city, striking young and old alike. Now, as panic mounts and the body count rises, hidden secrets emerge. And as Seregil and Alec are about to learn, conspiracies and plagues have one thing in common: The cure can be as deadly as the disease.

Out May 29 (excerpt)

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Nalini Singh‘s TANGLE OF NEED (paranormal romance): I’ll be honest – I’m not quite sure anything could top last year’s KISS OF SNOW, so I have much lower expectations this time around.  Also, cover-wise?  Not entirely sure what they were thinking when it came to the US cover.  Granted, the UK cover is a bit on the bland side, but I much prefer it to the US one – too much going on there!

Blurb:

Adria, wolf changeling and resilient soldier, has made a break with the past–one as unpredictable in love as it was in war. Now comes a new territory, and a devastating new complication: Riaz, a SnowDancer lieutenant already sworn to a desperate woman who belongs to another.

For Riaz, the primal attraction he feels for Adria is a staggering betrayal. For Adria, his dangerous lone-wolf appeal is beyond sexual. It consumes her. It terrifies her. It threatens to undermine everything she has built of her new life. But fighting their wild compulsion toward one another proves a losing battle.

Their coming together is an inferno…and a melding of two wounded souls who promise each other no commitment, no ties, no bonds. Only pleasure. Too late, they realize that they have more to lose than they ever imagined. Drawn into a cataclysmic Psy war that may alter the fate of the world itself, they must make a decision that might just break them both.

Out May 29 (excerpt)

And that’s it for me – any others on your radar?

As always, reviews were posted on Goodreads originally, but with additional comments in italics this time around.

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Regency Sting by Elizabeth Mansfield (regency romance)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really like Elizabeth Mansfield’s historicals – she gives good romance within the length constraints dictated by categories. This was a traditional regency with an American heir being the main plot point. It was a decent read – I liked the relationship between the h/h and how the story eventually played out. Yes, it was a bit predictable and the secondary romance didn’t do anything for me, but overall, I enjoyed this.

And the rating of three stars probably holds true, i.e. I liked.  Or in other words, I enjoyed it while I was reading it, but only have a vague memory of the plot and characters eight months later.

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Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn (historical romance)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well, it’s a Julia Quinn so it has to be a fun read – it delivered on that front, her trademark Quinn humour made me smile. I liked revisiting the Bridgertons (it’s been too long!) and loved seeing the Smythe-Smiths from another angle. However, I struggled somewhat trying to remember the h/h a couple of weeks later. Fun and frothy, but not necessarily memorable.

Julia Quinn is still an auto-buy author for me, but I don’t rush out to buy her books on the first day of release any more.  Her Bridgerton books are still my favourites. 

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Life Lessons by Kaje Harper (m/m romance)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A slightly convoluted murder mystery with a rather unbelievable villain. However, while the story started slowly, it built up to an ending that had me buying the next book, Breaking Cover, to find out what happens next.

This was my first Kaje Harper, and I suspect I picked this up based on a rec on a review site somewhere.  I liked it, but it was the second book (below) that sealed the deal.

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Breaking Cover by Kaje Harper (m/m romance)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The setup reminded me slightly of Josh Lanyon‘s Adrien English series – and comparisons against the AE series always leave the other books looking slightly lacking. Having said that, I thought the suspense was balanced well against the romance elements in this book. Generally, the relationship was more angst-y than the prequel Life Lessons, which is always a plus for me!

I did like this book, and have added Kaje Harper to my list of authors to read.

I think there’ll be another book in this series coming out soon – I hope so, as this is shaping up to be a good romantic suspense type of series.  Then again, my weak spot is relationships that develop over the course of several books, as opposed to insta-love + HEA in one book.

• The annual Brenda Novak auction is on – and Phyl from Phyl’s Quilts & Books has a really cool quilt up for auction.  It’s for a good cause and there are some tempting things up for auction – I’ve set aside some time to browse through properly.
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• Ever wondered what happens at a book cover photoshoot?  The always-hilarious Sarah Rees Brennan describes the photoshoot for hers and Justine Larbalestier‘s new book UNSPOKEN.
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• Plagiarism – AnimeJune @ Gossamer Obsessions says it all.
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• On a more cheerful note, Tor goes DRM-free!  I am thrilled that a mainstream publisher has made this choice, and based on solid business reasons too, from what I gather – I hope they are the first of many.  It gives us readers more flexibility, and let’s face it, DRM didn’t actually accomplish anything.
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• New covers for Andrea K Höst‘s Touchstone trilogy books – I like.
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• YA anthology ETERNAL SPRING for free @ Smashwords – I’ve downloaded it, but haven’t read yet, so no opinion on the stories at the moment.  I admit the primary attraction for me is Diana Peterfreund‘s killer unicorn short.
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• A wide-ranging interview with Sharon Lee & Steve Miller @ Grasping for the Wind – they’re amongst my favourite authors.  Their latest Liaden book DRAGON SHIP has just been released as an eARC at Baen, but I’m trying to hang on for the official release in September.
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• Sherwood Smith‘s put up a free short story EXCERPTS FROM THE DIARY OF A HENCHMINION @ her blog – it takes a loving poke at some fantasy tropes and made me laugh.
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• Via Lois McMaster Bujold‘s blog, a post from Jo Walton on series structure @ tor.com.  I always like the thoughtfulness of her posts (and how she highlights books/authors I’m not familiar with) and this is no exception.
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• More from Andrea K Höst’s blog, this time the second part of the fantasy round table that several writers are doing.  This time, they talk about The Baggage of Language – as before, some fascinating points.

And… I think that’s it!  I should post more frequently, huh?

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One Was a Soldier by Julia Spencer-Fleming (mystery)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was totally engrossed in this book, even though it’s been ages since I read the last one, I Shall Not Want (A Rev. Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne Mystery, #6). Raw, painful, though ever-so-slightly predictable – it was a good read and I’m looking forward to the next Clare/Russ book.

Though I don’t exactly rush out to buy the latest on release date, I know Julia Spencer-Fleming always delivers a good read and is worth the hardcover splurge.  

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Grave Dance by Kalayna Price (urban fantasy)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love the books that make you think “Oh, actually, no, I do want more of X” when you could have sworn you had enough of the genre. For me, GRAVE DANCE is one of these and had me rethinking my supposed overdose of urban fantasy in recent years.

I liked the first book in this series (Grave Witch (Alex Craft, #1)), and DANCE has me really getting into the series – there is great storytelling and world-building here. I loved how Kalayna Price explained the concept of indebtness for fae – having Alex feel the imbalance shift as you thank someone or apologise made total sense. Though I could have done without the love triangle (sigh… if I could ban one plot device, it would be the love triangle), I have to admit both the romantic interests are intriguing, and I want to see what happens next – I’m looking forward to the next book.

I liked this one – can you tell?  This is one of the very few new(-ish) UF series I get excited about.  I haven’t read her other series though – has anyone?

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Naamah’s Blessing by Jacqueline Carey (fantasy)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

NAAMAH’S BLESSING has not been my favourite of Jacqueline Carey’s three Kushiel trilogies (Moirin and her travels just hasn’t engaged me as much as Phedre or Imriel did), though having said that, I finished this in one sitting despite its length. There’s good storytelling here with genuinely scary parts. And there was a good-wins-out-in-the-end type of ending, which did leave me feeling satisfied.

Gosh, I recall some squeam-ish moments towards the end in this book.  I loved Ms Carey’s Kushiel books but her more recent releases haven’t worked that well for me.  Though having said that, her more contemporary UF, SANTA OLIVIA, is still in my TBR pile.  I should get started on that. 

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Prove It by Chris Owen (m/m romance)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked the friends-to-lovers plot, though I’m not quite sure that the device of having a 3rd (or 4th person) explain relationship truths to the h/h really worked because (a) it’s sort of awkward unless yes, they’re very very close and have been a spectator to all your relationships and (b) it would have been more satisfying if the h/h had worked it out for themselves.

I did like the writing and would read more by Chris Owen.

New-to-me author here, IIRC.  And despite my problems with the plot device used, it was a good read. 

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Ghost Story by Jim Butcher (urban fantasy)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, talk about story-telling. I’m not entirely sure the book left me completely satisfied as a reader, but it certainly kept me hooked, with Jim Butcher blatantly tugging on my heartstrings throughout. The title of the previous book, Changes (The Dresden Files, #12), was certainly a good prophecy for this book and I will definitely be picking up the next.

My annual Dresden fix.

Reviews cross-posted from Goodreads as always, additional comments in italics.

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Hit List by Laurell K. Hamilton (paranormal romance)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Ummm… not much to say here. Lots of repetition. I skimmed. I borrowed this from the library, which shows that at least I am learning. Slowly.

I know.  Serves me right, huh?

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Smokin’ Seventeen by Janet Evanovich (mystery)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

A bit of a forgettable read, this one – I’m glad I borrowed it from the library.

I am so glad I’ve managed to stop myself from buying the hardcover.  I think this book was sitting on the New Releases shelf as well – no reservations for this one. 

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A Double Deception by Joan Wolf (regency romance)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I’ve a soft spot for Joan Wolf’s regencies – I liked this sweet romance, though it’s not one of her best. Familiar plot and familiar characters with an OTT villain – a quick and enjoyable read.

I liked this well enough when I read it, but am struggling to remember the plot now.  Good to know I’m showing some consistency with my ratings… I think this one is only if you’re a Joan Wolf fan.  Or like sweet regency romances.

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Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris (urban fantasy)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had low expectations coming into this book, having not really got on with the previous couple of books, and was pleasantly surprised – this was actually entertaining with a plot! I liked that Sookie wasn’t so much of a doormat in this book when her “friends” did stupid things. I’m hoping the next book shows us consequences of events in this. I’m also starting to wonder how Charlaine Harris will end this series – will there be an HEA, and if so, how…

The more we get in this series, the more doubtful I feel about everyone getting a happy ending in the end.  I’ve read Ms Harris’s other (mystery) series, and well, I don’t think she feels the need to give a HEA.  

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Mind Games by Carolyn Crane (urban fantasy)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The cover is very much standard UF – the story is not. It’s UF with an unusual twist – I liked and will be picking up the other two in this trilogy.

Disclaimer: I’ve been reading Carolyn Crane’s blog (and have been a very occasional commenter) since her pre-publication days, and so may have been slightly biased here. I did buy MIND GAMES back when it was first released in 2010, but only got around to reading it last year (and mentioning it here another year later – good thing no one’s dependent on me for publicity!).

Of the Best Novel nominations, I have James A Corey‘s LEVIATHAN WAKES in my TBR pile, and Hilcia recommends – I plan on starting it soon-ish (by the way, Hils got two Hugo nominees right, so I’m impressed!).  She also recommends China Miéville‘s EMBASSYTOWN - this has less appeal to me at the moment.  On the other hand, I’ve never read any of his works, so I could be missing out!  I’m probably not going to read George RR Martin‘s A DANCE WITH DRAGONS, as it’s the fifth in a long-ish series, and I don’t see myself reading the first four.  Similarly with Mira Grant‘s DEADLINE (despite my love for Seanan McGuire’s October Daye books), I’ve not read the first in the trilogy, so I’m not planning on picking that up.  That leaves Jo Walton‘s AMONG OTHERS, and again the premise doesn’t appeal to me (though I do like the articles she writes at Tor.com).

So that’s that for me and the Best Novel nominees – I’d love to hear your opinions on them if you’ve read any (or even if you haven’t!).

As for the Short Story nominees, they’re all available online and John Scalzi (who is one of them) has kindly provided links.  I need to check them out.

And finally, I have to say I’ve never heard of any of the John W Campbell nominees before this, which makes me feel as though I’ve been living under a rock.

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While we’re on the SFF theme, Fantasy Cafe has been hosting a Women in SF&F Month, with some great contributions from authors and readers alike.  I did the link-clicking thing and came across this list of female SF authors by Jessica @ Sci-Fi Fan Letter.  It’s a good resource, though I’m not looking to actively read books written by female authors.  If anything, I probably read too many female authors (by-product of being a romance reader, possibly?) – if I wanted to aim for more gender diversity, I would have to consciously try and read more books written by males.  Having said that, Jessica’s point was that while there are a lot of females writing SF, you may not always guess that from award nominee listings.

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And the pre-13 release buildup for Kelley Armstrong‘s final Otherworld book continues – remember when I had a bit of a moment about the free story only available in the hardcover versions?  She announces an e-only pack [ETA: new link], probably released in June – it’ll be $1.99 for this:

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

This is the promotion I’ll be running (me, not my publishers) for the bonus pack. With the e-book pack, you’ll receive:

1) something old - Stalked (the 10,000* word Elena & Clay honeymoon story reprinted from My Big, Fat Supernatural Honeymoon)

2) something new – a still-untitled 10,000* word Eve story set before Thirteen

3) something borrowed – first 50 pages of Thirteen/13

4) something blue – Xaviere is doing fun “police lineup” style character bookmarks, one for the gals (Elena, Paige, Eve, Jaime, Hope, Savannah) and one for the guys (Clay, Lucas, Kristof, Jeremy, Karl, Adam). The characters are dressed in blue (hey, I had to get it in there somehow!) I’m doing a limited print run of both. If you email me your receipt for the purchase of the bonus pack, I’ll mail you a pair of bookmarks, at least one of them signed. Because the bookmarks are a limited edition, I do have to “cap” this promo, but it’ll be a high cap, likely 1500, which shouldn’t be a problem if the only way to hear about it is through me

I’m on the fence – it’s nice in the sense she doesn’t have to do it and you know, I love Eve, but as I’ve already have MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL HONEYMOON, it’s really $2 for a short story.  I think I’ll wait and see.

Also, if you haven’t already heard, she has another new novella coming out with Subterranean Press – FORBIDDEN will be released in December.

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And finally, a couple of links I tweeted earlier this week:

• Seanan McGuire‘s put up a free short story in her InCryptid universe called NO PLACE LIKE HOME - I know I’m still on the fence on the Verity Price books, but I really like these prequel shorts.  I’ve a soft spot for Jonathan and Fran.
• Mary Jo Putney talks about romance in Lois McMaster Bujold‘s Vorkosigan universe @ Heroes & Heartbreakers.  Warning: it’s spoilerific, but a great essay.  I loved this paragraph:

The Vorkosiverse is a feast of relationships, not just romances. I love how cousins Miles and Ivan interact as evil brothers who nonetheless trust each other unconditionally. The way marriages mature and change. The way the boy emperor, Gregor, grows into his insanely demanding role. Cordelia, Aral, Gregor, Mark—there are so many marvelous characters who are defined as much by their relationships as by their actions.

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The Demon’s Surrender by Sarah Rees Brennan (YA urban fantasy)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One-word summary? WOW.

THE DEMON’S SURRENDER was everything I expected and more (and trust me, I had pretty high expectations after The Demon’s Covenant).

Sarah Rees Brennan is not afraid of taking her characters to very dark places, which just makes it all the more satisfying when they triumph – a heart-wrenchingly wonderful sort of book. And I was hooked from the very first chapter – my heart was in my mouth so many times and the twisty fast-moving plot (my internal commentary was along the lines of “Could it be? Nah! It is! Nooooo!”) kept me reading well into the early hours of the morning.

If I could have had anything more in SURRENDER, it would be more POVs (and more Jamie!), but that’s really a reflection of the fact I fell in love with the story and the world and just wanted to know EVERYTHING and more. Alan and Nick and Mae and Jamie were as fantastic as they have been in previous books. As for Sin – I admit I had doubts about her as the main narrator initially – I’m not sure why I ever doubted now, she was the perfect narrator and I was cheering her on throughout.

SURRENDER is, well, it’s action-packed, full of feeling – you laugh and weep with the characters – and I closed the book feeling thoroughly satisfied. And as a bonus, it’s set in London. What could be better?

Gosh, I can’t believe I didn’t post this on my blog last year.  Or perhaps I did and can’t remember?  Ummm.  Great trilogy, and yeah, this ended up on my 2011 favourites list.  I can’t wait to read Sarah Rees Brennan’s next release.

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A Very Dutiful Daughter by Elizabeth Mansfield

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

A fun read, but not a memorable one. The Big Misunderstanding came across as very contrived, and I didn’t really warm to the h/h.

Not one of Elizabeth Mansfield’s best, IMO.

Someone asked me on Goodreads which Mansfields I would recommend.  With the caveat that it’s been a while, here are four I really liked: The Phantom Lover, Her Man of Affairs, Passing Fancies, and Love Lessons. 

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When Tony Met Adam by Suzanne Brockmann (m/m romance)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really really liked this one – and it definitely got bonus points for letting me revisit the Troubleshooters gang (loved Sam!). While heavy on the social commentary as per usual Brockmann style, it felt relevant to the characters’ lives and plot line. And she pulled off the impossible and managed to redeem Adam.

This book left me with a smile on my face – you’ll obviously get a lot more from this story if you’ve read the previous books, but I think I would go as far as saying this would work even for new readers.

Another June read that ended up on my favourites of 2011 list – in hindsight, June was a really good reading month for me.  This was a e-only novella, IIRC.  

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Bad Company by K.A. Mitchell (m/m romance)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I loved KA Mitchell’s previous book, No Souvenirs, and had high expectations going into this one, but I didn’t really connect with the story.

I didn’t get the whole “he’s my best friend” thing after being parted for goodness knows how many years. And I guess I never really felt the relationship – part of it is the GFY element (meh), but it just never rang true.

I’ll still get KA Mitchell’s next book, but this isn’t one of her better ones, IMO.

Yeah, this one just fell a bit flat for me.  The second book in this series was much better though – think I read it towards the end of the year?  Maybe. 

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Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews (urban fantasy)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I think I over-anticipated this one somewhat.

It took me a while to really get into the book with a couple of false starts, but once the pace picked up, I was engrossed until the end. The book struck me as more plot-driven than character-driven, and this meant I wasn’t as invested as I could have been. I do like that the authors aren’t afraid to put their characters in dangerous situations – there is always the risk something bad is going to happen and it lends a bit of an edge to the story.

Overall, a satisfying read, though I didn’t love it as much as previous books in the series.

I had to glance through the book description because I really couldn’t recall the storyline.  Which probably sums up my feelings about this book – it was a good read, but not a memorable one.

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Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book made me cry. Sigh.

It’s a satisfying, but quick read – so much story and character packed into a short book.

I could have sworn I read this based on a recommendation from Angie, but I’m coming up blank on a review search.  Hmmm… did anyone else review this during the first half of last year?

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Sharon Shinn‘s THE SHAPE OF DESIRE (urban fantasy): I was madly excited when I found out Sharon Shinn was writing an urban fantasy.  I’ve always loved her more traditional fantasy books (which are wonderfully romantic and are just written beautifully), and having her write in one of the more popular sub-genres just excited me.

I’ve finished THE SHAPE OF DESIRE now and to be honest, I’m in two minds about it.  More so about the story and Maria/Dante’s relationship, as opposed to the writing (which was as evocative as always).  I’ll probably get my Goodreads review up shortly, but has anyone else finished it yet?  I think I need to discuss!

Blurb:

For fifteen years Maria Devane has been desperately, passionately in love with Dante Romano. But despite loving him with all of her heart and soul, Maria knows that Dante can never give all of himself back-at least not all the time.

Every month, Dante shifts shape, becoming a wild animal. During those times, he wanders far and wide, leaving Maria alone. He can’t choose when he shifts, the transition is often abrupt and, as he gets older, the time he spends in human form is gradually decreasing. But Maria, who loves him without hesitation, wouldn’t trade their unusual relationship for anything.

Since the beginning, she has kept his secret, knowing that their love is worth the danger. But when a string of brutal attacks occur in local parks during the times when Dante is in animal form, Maria is forced to consider whether the lies she’s been telling about her life have turned into lies she’s telling herself…

Out now (PDF excerpt)

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Sherwood Smith‘s BANNER OF THE DAMNED (fantasy): A standalone (yes!) story set in Sherwood Smith’s Inda universe – I am reading this now and am totally absorbed.  It’s shaping up to be a very good one.

Blurb:

Princess Lasva is about to be named heir to her childless sister, the queen. But, when the queen finally bears an heir, Lasva’s future is shattered. Grief-stricken, she leaves her country of Colend and falls into the arms of Prince Ivandred of Marloven Hesea. His people are utterly different-with their expertise in riding, weaponry, and magic- and the two soon marry.

When the sensational news makes its way to Lasva’s sister, the queen worries for Lasva at the hands of the Marlovens, whose king’s mage is in league with the magical land of Norsunder-considered by Colendi to be their enemy. The queen orders Emras, a scribe, to guard Lasva.

But it may be too late-Lasva is already deeply involved with the Marlovens and their magic. War wages on, and all are forced to redefine love, loyalty, and power…

Out now (excerpt)

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Holly Black‘s BLACK HEART (YA urban fantasy): This is the conclusion to her Curse Workers trilogy.  It’s funny – I take ages to pick up the latest in this series (okay, the past two) and then I always wonder what took me so long because I end up enjoying the twistiness and double-crossing of Cassel’s world.  It’s urban fantasy with a bit of bite to it, and I’m wondering how Holly Black is going to conclude Cassel’s story.

Blurb:

Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.

But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.

Out now (book page)

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Kelly Hunter‘s CRACKING THE DATING CODE (category contemporary romance): Kelly Hunter’s now an autobuy author for me – I’ve enjoyed every single one of her books.  This is the latest – loosely connected to her previous book, FLIRTING WITH INTENT.

Blurb:

A Crash Course in Flirtation…

Poppy West – genius and legendary code-cracker – needs a hideaway. Her borrowed desert island seems perfect – until she discovers the owner is the most dangerously sexy man she has ever laid eyes on… Now she’s out of her depth!

Sebastian Reyne never intended to teach Poppy all the delightful, enticing mysteries of flirtation. Poppy needs a nice man, not a rogue. A patient man, not one who can’t be controlled. But her clueless attempts at cracking the dating code bring out the rescuer in him, the teacher in him, even the gentleman in him. For a while.

Until Poppy’s skills start to exceed his own…

Out now (excerpt)