Nic Dempsey

I expected that in November, what with the being indoors on the sofa for the whole month, that I’d read loads and make a dent in the TBR pile. That didn’t happen. I read a bit but I also rediscovered my cross-stitch, it’s hard to read and sew at the same time. I also hit a bit of slump and returned to re-reading Georgette Heyer novels, this month I re-read, The Grand Sophy, A Civil Contract, Frederica, Venetia, The Spanish Bride and An Infamous Army. However, this is what I did read in November…

The Game Plan – Kristen Callihan (borrowed)

I know nothing about American football, I have doubts about this kind of New Adult being in love forever but I love these books, I read it in about 4 hours and I have no shame about it.

The Invasion of the Tearling – Erika Johansen (library book)

This is the second book and in comparison to the first (Queen of the Tearling) this felt rushed. Clearly there’s a plan but this book raises more questions than it answers and it’s slow which given that the book takes place over a couple of weeks is odd. Bits of it is fascinating and you can sort of see the world building but just doesn’t hang together. Will I read the third, yes.

Half a War – Joe Abercrombie (library e-book)

This was the third of the books, I really loved all of them and this was a good ending. No-one gets everything they want and even if they do, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.

Dust – Hugh Howey (library e-book)

This was also a satisfying end to trilogy, however, it and the second (Shift) didn’t live up the promise of the first (Dust).

The Sport of Baronets – Theresa Romain (borrowed)

This is a novella to kick off the start of a new series, historical and set around horse racing. The relationship between the hero and heroine has been described as “I hate you, I hate you but I can’t stop thinking about your hair”. So I had to read it, it was fun and I really enjoyed it. It’s nice to see a historical where the woman does something and wants something.

Season for Temptation – Theresa Romain (borrowed)

I read it and enjoyed it in a meh sort of a way, it’s really hard to believe that she wrote this after reading The Sport of Baronets. In fact, thinking about the book a couple of days after I finished it, I can’t really remember much about it

Not Quite a Wife – Mary Jo Putney (borrowed)

This is part of a series and I enjoyed it while I was reading it, how I’m thinking about it, all I can see are the problems. Like how patient the hero was being and how selfish the heroine was, all she really saw was her point of view and although that’s fine for an 18 year old it’s poor from a 28 year old, who runs an infirmary and home for battered woman and professed to have a deep Christian faith. Some of that stuff got addressed but I was all about her growing the hell up for a considerable portion of the book…

Angels Twice Descending – Cassandra Clare & Robin Wasserman (borrowed)

I love these, they are just long enough to enjoy but quick enough that you can read them in under an hour. This is the last one and H had feelings about the thing that happened, which I heard about at length. I know that supporting characters are there to highlight the feelings of the ‘hero’ and perhaps teach them something but I didn’t like this one, damn it, it was supposed to be escapism…

Christmas Ever After – Sarah Morgan (library e-book)

I like Sarah Morgan, it’s simple, engaging and it has a happy ending. I worked it out and this is my 6th of her books. If light and fluffy is your thing, this is one for you but I would read the Puffin Island books in order, start with First Time in Forever and go from there.

Fuzzy Nation – John Scalzi (library e-book)

Every time I read something by John Scalzi, I wonder I why I don’t read more of his stuff. This is a case in point and just what I needed to get me out of my slump. It was funny, interesting and had a nice ending. Just what I needed.