The 3 R's: Reading, Riting & Rithmetic...

Okay. Not so much of the Arithmetic! But I have been reading...and now it's time to write about it! I can hardly believe how much I've read since the last time I blogged on here!! So here goes-

First, I did get to read The Viscount Who Loved Me, the 2nd in Ms. Quinn's Bridgerton series. I also read Romancing Mr. Bridgerton and To Sir Phillip, With Love, numbers 3 & 4 in the series. I have now completed the entire series! I must say that they will remain on my bookshelf as one of my all time favorite families. All of the books were remarkably good and it's so much fun to have recurring characters. I absolutely fell in love with every book. Thank you Ms. Quinn for many hours of reading pleasure!

Second, I read both of the books I had in the Sabrina Jeffries School for Heiresses series. Both Don't Bargain With the Devil and Wed Him Before You Bed Him were fantastic reads. Again, I absolutely love the recurring characters. It's like reading really good gossip about old friends! And the last book in this series finally ties up the story of Charlotte Harris...the proprietor of the school. I have long been waiting for her "happy ending". I recommend the entire series!


I took a break from historical romance to give The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffeneggar a try. Lulu had bought and read it and raved about how good it was. In fact, she pretty much thrust it in my face and demanded I read it. So I did! It took me a bit to really get into it, but once I did, I was hooked but good! It is a fascinating read with a truly original concept. I stayed up way too late many a night because I didn't want to put it down. You can't help but get caught up in the characters and storyline as it hurls to it's inevitable conclusion. Highly recommended read!


I also took another genre leap and picked up a book called Blood Lite, short stories by different authors, presented by the Horror Writers Association. I thoroughly enjoyed it as well! Some of the stories not as much as others of course. But notable standouts were- Kelley Armstrong's "The Ungrateful Dead". I was laughing so much as I began this one that Jethro asked what was so funny. I preceded to read the story aloud and we laughed alot. There may have even been some laugh/snorting involved. I will have to pick up some of her novels and see if they are just as good. Another standout was- Charlaine Harris' "An Evening with Al Gore". Not quite as humorous, but I liked the theme and the conclusion was very satisfying!! Also standing out (in this readers humble opinion)- Eric James Stone's "PR Problems", proving that vampires and werewolves get all the good press! If you like horror or scifi, like to laugh and are looking for some short stories I'd recommend picking this one up!


Currently I've sunken my teeth into Once... by James Herbert, who in my book is the British answer to Stephen King. I've read many of his works but came across this one in a used book store and picked it up. It promises to be full of creepy situations and things that go bump in the night! Woo hoo!!!


That's all I've got dear readers...so go forth and read!!!
♥Gert

Romance, romance everywhere!

Finally, I squeezed in some reading time! And turned my attention to historical romance. I did get to read Seducing an Angel by Mary Balogh. And everything it promised, it delivered! Reading it was like seeing old friends you haven't seen in awhile, as it completed the quartet of books that began with First Comes Love. As always, Ms. Balogh crafts a believable world set in regency England. She fills her books with characters you can believe in and root for. I laugh, cry, and fall in love right along with them! It was very well done and definitely a must read! However, I do hope that she's not going to leave us hanging on what happens to cousin Con Huxtable! I know that he's an honorable man, for all that aspersions have been cast upon his character, and wait with baited breath to read his story!!!

I also managed to read another Bridgerton novel by Julia Quinn. I am attempting to read all eight in the series but am woefully out of order. I started with Gregory's story On the Way to the Wedding and as he is number 7 of the Bridgerton siblings obviously, that was not the first book! I did go back and read the first one, and the third and the eighth and finally the sixth. Confusing, no? The sixth book dealt with Francesca, the 6th Bridgerton sibling and the 3rd girl. It was called When He was Wicked. It was good, but not my favorite. I don't think any of this was the fault of Ms. Quinn's writing...it was superb as always, but I don't like characters whose major actions are led by guilt. I'm not a big believer in guilt myself. No regrets and all that. Still, it was a good story and a definate must read when following the lively Bridgerton clan! I finally got ahold of the 2nd book in the series and will read it next! Then there will only be two to go!

I also read What Happens In London, again by the incomparable Ms. Quinn. This one was a follow up to an earlier book called The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever, one of the funniest romances I have ever read! This second book follows the best friend of Miranda Cheevers, Lady Olivia Bevelstoke. And while Miranda and her husband (who is Lady Olivia's older brother) are not featured in this book, they are mentioned so that we know all is still well in their world. What Happens In London fully lived up to the first book. It was hilarious!!! I laughed out loud many many times. I also annoyed Lulu by reading aloud funny passages just so I could share it with someone. What a great read! Highly recommended!!

And last but not least, I had the good fortune to find The Bridegroom, the fourth book in the Stone Creek Series by Linda Lael Miller. It follows the life of Gideon Yarbro, younger brother to Rowdy and Wyatt (books 2 &3). It was short, but very good. I love returning to Ms. Lael Miller's recreation of the Northern Arizona Territory. Who doesn't love a good western?! And Ms. Lael Miller is a pro at it! Again...I laughed, cried and rooted for the hero. If you haven't read the series...I suggest you do!

Well I'm going to start another Bridgerton novel tonight. Number 2 in the series, The Viscount Who Loved Me. After that I have on my nightstand...Don't Bargain With The Devil and Wed Him Before You Bed Him. Both are part of the Sabrina Jeffries series "The School for Heiresses".

Happy Reading,
♥Gert

Look who's talking...

Not mature?! What?! I'm not the one who drinks caprisuns. Or has a Hello Kitty liter. Seriously.

So I finished not only Book 1 Blood Brothers but also Book 2 The Hollow in the Nora Roberts Sign of Seven trilogy! Omg. Good Stuff!!! The plots were good...you can't go wrong really with Big Bad Evil thing versus Good, slightly extraordinary, people. The characters are definately worth caring about. And it's funny, sexy, entertaining. And scary...gotta love that! I'm anxiously awaiting Book 3 The Pagan Stone which comes out November 25. Definately a recommended read!

Next I'm moving on to a book called The House at Midnight by Lucie Whitehouse. It's an author I've never read but it caught my eye at the library. Looks spooky. I'll let you know!

I'm going to get Lulu on here to do a review because she's been reading a couple of young adult series that I don't read lately. Just in case anyone wants to check out that market!

what a good day for a book,
gert♥