Category Archives: Book Talk

Welcome to this week’s Book Talk!

I read two books last week. But neither of them were books I had planned on reading!

The first book I read is Tea Cooper’s The Naturalist’s Daughter. I absolutely adore her novels which are typically historical novels with dual times. In her talented hands, the Australian countryside springs vividly to life as do her spirited heroines.

I also read Sundays with Oliver by Kelly Jensen. This lovely romance features two men who are getting used to becoming empty nesters. I love that Nick and Oliver are in their forties and their characters come across as very realistic and loveable. It’s been ages since I’ve read a gay romance that I’ve loved as much as this one.

Next week I’m hoping to read Block and Strike by Kelly Jensen and Treasure State by C.J. Box.

Now it’s your turn. What have you been reading lately? Join the discussion by commenting below!

If you read romance novels, do you like friends to lovers storylines?

I am a HUGE fan of friends to lovers romances. What could be better than two people who already know each other really well falling in love?

Well, the path to true love never happens this easily, so there is always conflict. Will one of the friends work up the courage to confess their feelings? What if they give their romance a shot and it doesn’t work out? Will their friendship survive if love isn’t in the cards for them? Will they discover they don’t quite know each other as well as they think? Any or all of these scenarios usually make for an excellent romance.

Full confession: my husband and I were friends who fell in love and we’ve been married for 35 (and counting) years!

Comment below to join the conversation and share your opinion on romance novels. And if you’re currently reading a romance, tell us about it!

I’m looking forward to reading:

Welcome to this week’s Book Talk!

I read two books this past week. One was on the longish side so it took me a couple of days to finish it.

The first book I read this week is Servants of the Damned by David Enrich. It is a non-fiction book which provides a pretty damning portrait of American law firms. It tracks the legal field in the years before and after a Supreme Court decision opened the flood gates to to today’s law firms. It also follows the history of the Jones Day law firm from its inception to its win at at all costs mentality. It also tracks the growing shift to the right that culminated in Jones Day’s involvement with the Trump campaign and presidency. It’s an incredibly insightful, eye-popping book that left me fuming!

The second book I read is The Wish by Nicholas Sparks. I have been a fan of his books since The Notebook, and while I don’t love all of his release, I absolutely adored The Wish. It has a teenage romance, tricky family dynamics, a lovely setting and of course, a bit of tragedy. Yes, I admit, the ending made me cry. I’ve been thinking about it off and all day so I know my 5 star rating is spot on!

I’m having surgery tomorrow (Tuesday) so I’m not sure how much reading I’ll do this week. I am hoping to read Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks . And since it finally arrived in the mail, I’d really like to read 3rd book in the DCI Jack Hawksworth series. I still have I’m the Girl by Courtney Summers on my “must read” list!

Now it’s your turn. What have you been reading lately? Join the discussion by commenting below!

If you read romance novels, do you like the enemies to lovers storyline?

While it’s not my favorite, I do occasionally read romances with enemies who become lovers. I am always hoping the reason they’re enemies is not something so contrived or ridiculous that I have a hard time enjoying the book. I’m also not thrilled when one person does not have any clue why the other person dislikes them so much they think of them as an enemy.

I find that, for me, some authors do some storylines better than others. Enemies to lovers tends to be that way for me. I think it comes down to whether or not the book comes across as realistic as to why the couple are “enemies” and how they resolve things between them.

Comment below to join the conversation and share your opinion on enemies to lovers romance novels. And if you’re eagerly awaiting an upcoming release, tell us about it!

I’m looking forward to reading:

Welcome to this week’s Book Talk!

I was not in the mood for reading last week, so I only read two books.

I finished The Wrong Woman by J.P. Pomare and I really liked it. The lead character is a PI who gets an offer he can’t refuse and returns to the small town he left behind. Reid is hired by an insurance company to get the bottom of a car accident with both a fatality and a survivor. This compelling mystery is fast-paced and includes some excellent plot twists. J.P. Pomare is a versatile author and I’ve loved every book he’s written!

The other book I’m still reading. Madeline Kay Sneed’s The Golden Season takes place in an ultra-conservative Texas town. The chapters alternate between a high football coach and his daughter who drops a bombshell just as he achieves a coveted career position. Religion, football and gossip completely rule this town where everyone knows each other. I cannot wait to find out how this fantastic novel is going to end.

This week I am looking forward to reading Courtney Summers’ upcoming release, I’m the Girl. I’m also planning to read the 3rd book in the DCI Jack Hawksworth series as long as it FINALLY arrives in the mail.

Now it’s your turn. What have you been reading lately? Join the discussion by commenting below!

Are you a fan of romance novels (I am!)? Do you like your romances to have light-hearted, happily ever after storylines? Or do you want a little drama? How about true to life romances with messy, everyday plots and characters? Do you like contemporary or historical romances? If you read historical romances, is there a time perios you prefer? A time periiod you won’t read? What are your feelings on happy for now endings?

I’ll read light-hearted romances, but my preference is true to life romances with messy characters and issues to overcome. I lean toward women’s fiction which usually focus on growth of characters as they deal with a difficult problem and the romance is secondary. I’m also ok with happy for now romances. I like to think if the couple is together at the conclusion of the story, they’ll be together for the long haul.

I also read historical romances. I don’t read a lot of them now because it’s getting hard to find a historical romance without a suspense element. I usually find myself rolling my eyes throughout those type of historical romance. As far as time period, my preference is late 1700s to the present.

Comment below to join the conversation and share your opinion on romance novels. And if you’re currently reading a romance, tell us about it!

I’m looking forward to reading: