My New Year’s resolution involving reading for 2016 was two-fold – to alternate between reading a physical book and reading on my Kindle thus hoping to clear BOTH To Be Read piles; and at least one book in two has to be an author I’ve not read before. I need to / want to find some new authors. So far, I am succeeding on both counts. This is what I’ve been reading…
The Spice Merchant’s Wife – Charlotte Betts (Paperback and new author)
I was really attracted by the cover of this book – and wasn’t disappointed. It threw me straight into London in 1666 as the great fire raged. The description and detail of the fire, as seen through our heroines eyes, was riveting.
This is a story of a woman’s struggle in a world that was not only hard – but at a time when woman had few rights. The hero of this story is not your traditional romantic hero. But the relationship that develops between the lead characters is totally believable and touching.
My first new author of the year is one I will go back to.
The Years of Loving You – Ella Harper (Paperback and new author)
I picked this up because it was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists Association awards – in the epic category. That category is for books that have more than a romance – they have other themes, often darker themes and sub plots. It didn’t win – but Ella Harper won it last year with Pieces of You – and I am now going to go back and read that book too.
I really enjoyed this book. It deals with a young woman faced with early onset Parkinson’s disease – and how that changes her world. It also gives her another chance to get back the great love of her life. This was a very poignant story – very well told in a dual timeline.
Highly recommended.
The Wedding Cake Tree – Melanie Hudson (new author on e-book)
This book won the Contemporary Romantic Novel of the year Award – and I can see why. I really enjoyed it. The hero was totally wonderful and the heroine was very engaging. One of the major characters in this book never actually made it to the page. She dies before the book begins and we get to know her through letters and memories. It’s a romance and a voyage of discovery. It’s well written and it kept me up late reading – because there were secrets being unveiled and I wanted to know more.
Highly recommended.
Breaking the Silence – Diane Chamberlain.
(not a new author or a paperback. There goes my resolution)
I read one of Diane Chamberlain’s books ages ago. I can’t even remember the title, but I do remember I really liked it. With that in mind, I have picked up a few of her titles when on special on Amazon. I finally decided I should read at least one of them.
I loved this book. It has a similar feel to Jodi Picoult – although with less focus on legal issues.
The heroine is a strong woman battling some very real problems involving her late husband, her child and eventually her own past. It was well written – and totally engrossing.
The Outback Heart – Fiona Palmer (Paperback and new author)
I picked up this book at the Romance Writers of Australia Conference. Fiona Palmer is a popular author of rural romances.
At first I wasn’t sure. The book is centred around the football team in a small rural tone. Unlike most Australians (most of the world too I guess) I am not a football fan. I wasn’t sure that this would work for me. But the heroine was such an engaging character, I sank right into the book. The hero was lovely too and the townsfolk seemed very real.
I devoured the book in a couple of sessions. Not as heavy as the previous read, – but light and enjoyable.
Please Release Me – Rhoda Baxter (e-book)
This book by a fellow Choc Lit author had an intriguing premise. It’s a romantic novel, but the centre point is a bride who has been in a coma since an accident on her wedding day. I was at a loss to see how this could be romantic – unless it involved her husband falling for someone else an abandoning her. And in my world, anyone who would abandon the woman they loved under such circumstances is not hero.
But that’s not what happened and in the end the book was very uplifting and hopeful. Well done Rhoda – this is a definitely a recommended read.
The Girl in the Dragon Tattoo – Stieg Larsson (Paperback and new author)
This book was the start of a publishing phenomenon. I always wait until the hype has died down before reading a phenomenon, for fear of being disappointed. I finally got around to trying this.
I loved the opening few pages… a haunting prologue that had me immediately intrigued. But as I moved on to the next chapter, I felt as if I had begun a totally different book. Even the writing style seemed different. Where the prologue had lightly danced around a mystery, the first chapter plunged into a heavy backstory that just did not grip me.
Translations can be awkward, and sometimes a reference or style doesn’t translate well. I was prepared for that, but I’m sorry, I gave up on this after another chapter. I didn’t really care enough to continue. It may be a great novel, it’s certainly a successful one, but it wasn’t for me.
Not even the thought of Daniel Craig in the film could save this one for me. Have you ever had that happen? A really really successful book that you tried to read – but couldn’t…