What I’ve been reading
I’ve been in sort of a reading slump lately. There have been very few books that have really stood out.
First, What Mattered Most by Linda Winfree, published by Samhain Publishing. From Samhain’s website:
A man in the worst place he can be-between two women-and forced to choose which one lives or dies
Houston homicide detective, John O’Reilly, is torn between two women. One is the woman he’s loved without hope for years. The other carries his unborn child. Now, a man bent on revenge wants O’Reilly to choose, and any choice he makes could cost him everything.
Gutsy sheriff’s deputy, Lanie Falconetti, is determined not to repeat her mother’s mistakes in love. Her no-strings attached affair with John O’Reilly leads to an unexpected, but joyfully welcomed pregnancy. However, the shadow from John’s past threatens not only her chance at happiness, but her life and that of her unborn baby as well.
Doesn’t that sound awesome? I liked the suspense aspect of this book, but what I really loved was the emotion. That was what kept me reading.
The second book is The Passenger by Joie Lesin. From the publisher’s website:
The musky scent of skin, a brush on the shoulder, a gust of bitter air–all forewarn Elizabeth a spirit will soon seek her help to pass from this world to the next. Yet a living man’s wounded soul offers her the challenge of a lifetime.
Set in the 1940′s, The Passenger tells the story of Elizabeth Reilly who travels to the Clemente Vineyard to help the spirit of an old man find peace and loses her heart to the son he left behind.
Joie is an old crit buddy of mine, and I had the chance to read TP when it was in the early stages of writing. This is a very cool, unusual historical paranormal romance set in the 1940s. It’s eerie in places, and sometimes reminded me of Ghost Whisperer, with the way Elizabeth was able to communicate with spirits. I liked the setting, too. I could barely get through The Black Dahlia because the 40s slang was distracting for me, but I didn’t find TP to be overrun with wording that pulled me out of the story. It’s another book with great emotions.
The last book I’m going to blog about (no spoilers, though) is Lover Revealed, because I just can’t resist. I thought this would be my favorite so far (V’s book is the one I’m really waiting on pins and needles for) but it wasn’t. That’s not to say I didn’t like it. I did. It was an excellent read. (I still think I’ve liked Rhage’s the best so far.) Exactly what I was hoping would happen, happened.
From a writing standpoint, Ward’s world building and character building still amazes me. Everything is so vivid…I have to say, I’m a little jealous of how well she can bring everything to life. 
Her Brotherhood books are so fast-paced though that I have to read them in one sitting. I ended up taking Thursday off and just spending the day reading. I’m actually on a little bit of a reading break right now to catch up on some other things. Like housework. 
Next up from my TBR list is Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh, and then probably Jimmy’s Lawn Service by Tori Napoli, which I started a few months ago but didn’t get a chance to finish yet.
What have you read lately that really stands out? Any good books out this month that I should check out?
Opposite here. Z’s book is my all-time favorite. And I loved the glimpses of him in LR, too. In actuality, I didn’t think I’d like LR so much because I didn’t like Marissa at all in any of the other books, and I wasn’t looking forward to this book all that much, but I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed LR, and though it was smack in my face the whole time, I didn’t see the twist with Butch until the end. I get so drawn into the characters, I forget to look for those twists and turns – which, to me, is a sign of a fantastic writer.
I’m really looking forward to V’s book too. Can’t believe we have to wait another six months…
Confession time—I can’t say I’ve loved any of the heroines. For me, they were all just okay. I did like Marissa better in this one than I’d liked her in the previous books.
I don’t like waiting the six months, either. At least Cindy Gerard’s next bodyguard book will be out in June, so that’s something to look forward to while I wait.
Me too. I liked that Marissa actually did something with her life in the end instead of being just a “wife”.
Oh yeah, I’m totally looking forward to Dallas’s book, too. Can’t wait for that one!
I have Manny’s book sitting on my shelf. I’ll be reading it soon, probably next, but right now I’m loving Visions of Heat. Yet another series.
I’m gonna have to move this to email.
Let me know what you think of Manny’s book. I read it over the Christmas holiday.