Reading Roundup #20: Here We Go Again

Y’all. When I say this was a really good week for reading, I mean it was a really good week. Favorites old and new are comin’ at ya!

Skyward (“Skyward” #1) by Brandon Sanderson: My friend, Mari, has been recommending this to me for about two years now, and she was absolutely right – this book is absolutely for me. Watching Spensa and her flight teammates grow both as pilots and as people is incredibly satisfying. This is my first Sanderson novel, and his ability to deliver humor, drama, and truly engaging action scenes has me hooked. Also, I’m more than a little in love with Doomslug and M-Bot.

Murder on Wall Street (“Gaslight Mysteries” #24) by Victoria Thompson: I was so excited for another “Gaslight Mystery,” and Murder on Wall Street does not disappoint! I think the murderer’s identity was pretty clear early on, but it was still fun to watch our protagonists figure it out – and, as always, to spend time with them while they investigated! And now I am officially in the “waiting a year for the next book” club. Which is sad, but also means… I have time for re-reads?!

Oh, and speaking of friends’ recommendations… someone managed to get me hooked on yet another long-running mystery series, which has me feeling both grateful and resigned. Would you believe me if I told you I once avoided multi-book series like the plague and read standalones almost exclusively? After my obsessions with the “Troubleshooters” and the “Gaslight Mysteries,” probably not, but it’s true. I was a different person then. Now I am broken and resigned to my fate. Anyway, let’s talk about…

What Angels Fear (“Sebastian St. Cyr” #1) by C.S. Harris: This series has been on my TBR list for some time now, but after Amrita gave it such a glowing recommendation during our Slow Burn chat, I knew it was time. Harris does a great job filling the tale with intriguing (and suspicious) characters, and I enjoyed watching them interact, working with and against each other. What Angels Fear is both a compelling story on its own and as an introduction to the world of our hero, Sebastian St. Cyr, setting the stage for future developments. I can’t wait to see where it goes! (This eagerness is evidenced by my going out and buying the next few books because I’m too impatient to wait for the library copies – oops!)

Gray Hair Don’t Care by Karen Booth: I think it’s safe to call this the star of the week. After a steady diet of adventure and mystery, this sweet and sexy second-chance romance about two 50-somethings finding their way to each other was a breath of fresh air. Booth’s characters are relatable, and, although they still have their problems, they are, wonderfully, adults, and handle those problems in adult ways. Watching Lela and Donovan figure out what they want and how they can be together is both fun and satisfying, and I’m still smiling over it days later. More books like this, please!

What are you reading this week? Any new favorites?

–b