Thursday, September 24, 2009

Cafe Chaos -- Books

Thursday, September 24, 2009
Welcome to Café Chaos. Grab a cup of coffee or tea (we prefer coffee) and join us for a chat. Every Thursday we’ll offer recommendations for book lovers. Feel free to comment on our picks or to throw in a few of your own. We’re listening!

SIS Barb says...
I let my daughter pick a book for me. She picked it based solely on the cover. No big surprise here, the cover is a pretty blue shade with purple flowers. I said, What the heck. I'll give it a shot."
I'm happy I did. This author was new to me but has apparently been around for awhile. Based on this book, I will read her again.

My Pick of the Week: Star Bright
The heroine must fake her own death to escape her brutal husband. New state, new town, new identity. Can her new employer, who can't tolerate liars, learn to trust her and help her through this new life? Will her husband find out the truth and come after her? You must read this to see what happens.

Author: Catherine Anderson
SIS Beth says...
As most of you know, I’m hooked on Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse series. I was ready to dive in to book four, Dead to the World, when the need to immerse myself in Victorian times, specifically Victorian England, arose. I started reading a collection of Sherlock Holmes short stories and though I am enjoying them, I’m also jonesing for some romance. It’s been awhile since I’ve read historical romance, so I started researching. Although I found plenty of books set in Regency times, and a few set in early-mid Victorian times, I could only find one romance novel set in late Victorian times—and that’s what I’m really interested in. If you have any suggestions, please send them on! Meanwhile, like Barb, I'm trying a new-to-me author who's been around for quite some time.

My Pick of the Week: Second Sight
Set in the late reign of Queen Victoria, this book is a double joy for me. Not only does it meet my time period desire, there’s a paranormal angle. Bonus! Oh, and it the first in the Arcane Society series. You know how I love a series. I’ve only just started the read, but so far it’s a delight. Here’s blurb…

There is nothing like having a dead husband return from the grave to ruin a fine spring morning…. In financial straits and on a sure path to spinsterhood, Venetia Milton is a Victorian-era photographer who possesses the uncanny ability to see other peoples’ auras. When she is hired to photograph the strange artifacts in the private collection of the Arcane Society she seizes on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to engineer her own ravishment. Her new employer -- Gabriel Jones – is just as mysterious as the relics in the Society’s museum. Not only does he have the eyes of a sorcerer, he is endowed with some unique psychic talents.
Author: Amanda Quick

5 comments:

Richard said...

Beth, I have smoked through a NUMBER of great novels in the past month or so, but there's one I'm engrossed in (and thoroughly enjoying) right now that may pique your interest -- if you have a lot of time (read: this is another novel which can be easily described as a "tome"!). It's hardly new, and I think there's even been a mini-series or movie made of it since it was published in the late '70s, but here you go:

The Far Pavilions, an epic novel of British-Indian history by M. M. Kaye, first published in 1978, which tells the story of an English officer during the Great Game. The novel, though rooted deeply in the romantic epics of the 19th century, has been hailed as a masterpiece of storytelling.

Richard said...

And there you go: Did the research, and "The Far Pavilions" was a miniseries; in fact, HBO's 1st miniseries, back in '84. Gotta hit Blockbuster now;)!

Tori Lennox said...

The Amanda Quick book sounds really good, Beth!

Wonder if our library has it.....

Sisters-in-Sync said...

Richard, The Far Pavilions DOES sound right up my alley. Thanks so much for the rec! Not something I can indulge in just now, but I will put it on my TBR list!

Tori, That's where I got my copy. :)

SIS Beth

Elle J Rossi said...

Beth,

I've read a few books by Amanda Quick and I always enjoy them. Good choice!

SIS Barb aka Elle J Rossi

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