What Are You Reading? (December 2013)
Monday, December 2, 2013
Open Book by Dave Dugdale
You thought I was going to forget that it’s the first Monday of the month didn’t you? Well, I remembered with three hours to spare! 😉
Tell us what you’ve finished, what you’re reading, and what’s on your To Be Read stack/list. (And if you’ve reviewed the books you’ve read somewhere, please include links!)
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- What book(s) did you finish reading (or listening to) since last month’s update?
- What are you currently reading and/or listening to?
- What’s the next book on your To Be Read stack/list?
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KayeDacus.com 
Finished Reading:
–The Life of Elizabeth I by Allison Weir, audiobook read by Davina Porter. I’ve been slogging my way through the 34-hour audio version of this biography since October 6. I’m currently at 23:57:53 and pretty much all I’ve “learned” about Elizabeth I, one of my favorite historical figures, is that SHE HASN’T GOTTEN MARRIED YET! The first 20+ hours of the book were pretty much focused on that—her dancing around the issue of marriage and the several different possible suitors she had and whether or not they were Catholic or Protestant. Around hour 22, we went back to the beginning of her reign and started looking at some of the actual politics of the time that didn’t involve her marital status. Narrator Davina Porter was, as always, stellar. 2.5 STARS – DNF.
–Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I thought it would be a good idea to re-read this second book in the Hunger Games trilogy before the movie comes out in a few weeks. I plowed through it in just a couple of hours the first time through, so I made myself take it a little slower this time—and I caught a lot of details I didn’t really remember from that first time through. 4 STARS
–To Taste Temptation (Legend of the Four Soldiers, Book 1) by Elizabeth Hoyt, audiobook read by Anne Flosnik. This is an audiobook I downloaded for free during a sale on Audible—and I did so only because it was free and because it’s a series by Elizabeth Hoyt, who is currently on my “becoming a favorite author” list. However, listening to this book is reminding me of why I don’t listen to books narrated by Anne Flosnik. I know there are tons of listeners who love her, but her voice grates on me (too breathy, nasally, and high-pitched); either her accent or her pronunciation of lots of words is a bit off, even accounting for differences in British and American inflections; and, for the first time, I’ve discovered that her American accent is atrocious (even more nasally and high-pitched than her regular voice). There just wasn’t enough I liked about it to force myself to finish it. 1 STAR – DNF.
—Marrying the Royal Marine (The Channel Fleet, Book 3) by Carla Kelly. Carla Kelly is becoming a go-to author for me when I need a quick, light historical romance abounding with tons of relationship building (and not so much “consummating”) and excellent period research—in a period and settings I know a lot about. I also greatly appreciate the fact that, like me, Kelly writes about characters who aren’t dukes and earls and viscounts but who are commoners and those who have had to struggle and work for the success and status they do have. 4.5 STARS.
—Sycamore Row. Audiobook narrated by Michael Beck. An excellent follow-up (though not a true “sequel”) to A Time to Kill. 4 STARS.
Currently Reading:
Marrying the Captain (The Channel Fleet, Book 1) by Carla Kelly. This is actually the first book in the trilogy in which Marrying the Royal Marine is the third. However, MtRM was written well enough as a stand-alone that it didn’t matter. Considering that the hero of Marrying the Captain is, what else, a Royal Navy captain, this could have gone quite wrong for me. However, CK did her job with both her research and her character development, and Captain Oliver Worthy has captured my heart almost as much as Commodore William Ransome and Acting Captain Ned Cochrane.
Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale. Audiobook narrated by Nicholas Boulton. I’m finally getting around to reading what so many readers and bloggers have tagged as one of the best romance novels ever. And, so far, I’ve been completely sucked into it—even listening to it on my commute this morning and afternoon though I don’t usually do that when driving in rush hour traffic. Nicholas Boulton seems to be the absolute perfect narrator for this story. I am only a few hours into this 19-hour story, so I’m reserving judgment, but so far, so good.
Next on TBR List
The Surgeon’s Lady by Carla Kelly. This is the second (and, for me, final) book in the Channel Fleet trilogy.
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Currently reading, “My Enemy’s Cradle,” by Sara Young.
Next on my list: “Ivanhoe,” by Sir Walter Scott.
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Wow. I have read a lot of audio books in the last month. I am currently working my way through Susan Mallery’s Fool’s Gold Series. I am on book 11. There are 3 Christmas novellas that are included in the series, which I have yet to read. Waiting for the appropriate time, Probably this month. The stories are really good.
I read The Inn at Rose Harbor–Debbie Macomber’s new Cedar Cove series.
As it is now December, I will begin reading my yearly Christmas books–Max Lucado’s An Angel’s Story, The Christmas Child, and The Christmas Candle. I still am trying to find time to see the movie. After Max, I will read Tom Mula’s Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol and end with my all time favorite of favorites–Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
My next book, as finals are approaching is The Logic of Partnership Taxation. I am sure it will be a very engaging read.
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I’m currently reading Paige Rewritten by Erynn Mangum. I want to start my annual Christmas re-reads pretty soon. Here’s what I read in November.
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Steven King’s “Danse Macabre” on audiobook (can’t italicize or underline)
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I’m reading “The Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana Trigiani. Earlier in the month I finished “Stella Bain” by Anita Shreve, “The All Girl-Filling Stations Last Reunion” by Fannie Flagg, and “The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon” by Alexander McCall Smith. Loved all of them. This makes me realize that perhaps if I’d read less and wrote more, I would have made 50,000 words instead of 41,000 during NANO. Oh, well. I live to read, and write.
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I just finished Ted Dekker’s Outlaw (4 stars), and am currently reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, and Elsie’s New Life by Martha Finley. I recently read John J. Horn’s Secret of the Lost Settlement (5 stars, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18203233-secret-of-the-lost-settlement?from_search=true). I am planning on reading The Healer’s Apprentice, The Captive Maiden, and The Fairest Beauty, all by Melanie Dickerson, and the rest of the Elsie Dinsmore Series by Martha Finley.
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Finished:
Stealing the Preacher – Karen Witemeyer: The main character is an artist (sort of)! I don’t read a lot of western/prairie historicals, but this one had a unique plot.
Trouble in Store – Carol Cox: I was expecting more from this one … I never really fell in love with the hero and heroine, so I ended up being indifferent to the romance. I’ll probably give the author another try (her Pinkerton detective one) … maybe borrow from the library.
Once Upon a Prince – Rachel Hauck: I don’t read a lot of contemporary set novels, but this plot was something I had to read –adorable! I loved Nathaniel … =) Definitely will follow the rest of this series.
Against the Tide – Elizabeth Camden: I got this free on Kindle awhile back, so after reading a blog post by Fiction Heroes Features and realizing Alex Banebridge from her earlier “The Lady of Bolton Hill” was in it, I promptly read it. I loved the dialogue between the hero and heroine. I’ll be keeping an eye out to buy this in print.
Highland Blessings – Jennifer Hudson Taylor: I’m not really into the Scottish Highlander historicals, but this was another free Kindle read (plus I have her second book, so I thought I’d read the first). It was okay … I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that I don’t really care for the maiden /kidnapped by macho Highlander/arranged marriage … who eventually fall in love.
(Wow, I read more than I thought!)
What are you currently reading and/or listening to?
It’s finals week, so nothing right now. =)
What’s the next book on your To Be Read stack/list?
Some school stuff to catch up on during break … fiction-wise, I’m not sure yet.
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I’ve just finished reading “The Geometry of Sisters” by Luanne Rice and working on “The First Phone Call From Heaven” by Mitch Albom. Next on my list is “Same Sun Here” by Silas House..
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