Bree’s Favorite Books of May & June

Some of these books I plan to do long posts about, but I figured I’d throw in an update on some of the books I’ve read and enjoyed recently.  They span genres from contemporary romance to sci-fi.  Oddly the only thing most of them seem to have in common is that I found out about them on twitter.  Apparently I’m a slave to the twitter masses now.

Fire & Rain by Elizabeth Lowell

Why I picked it up: A spirited discussion between Donna, c2s & Lauren Dane on twitter about the heroes in this Elizabeth Lowell series sparked my interest. Donna sealed the deal by saying the one thing she knows I can’t resist… “She’s his best friend’s little sister.”  Case closed.

Thoughts: Oh man.  Lauren Dane pretty much hit the nail on the head when she said Lowell walks a tiny, tiny line here.  There are a lot of authors who would have made me slam this book into the wall repeatedly, and not just the bad ones.  The hero’s the kind of surly asshole you feel guilty about finding so damn hot, and as Lauren remarked, that just makes it so much better.

Donna knows my secret buttons, so she sold it to me on the strength of the little-sister connection, and yeah. I loved it. No point in denying it.  I would have already read Outlaw too if I hadn’t misplaced the damn book during our move!

Recommended to: people who like their heroes full of angst, jealousy and self-denial.  Mmm, I love me some self-denial.  Oh, and you know, can’t discount the cowboy part.

Below the Belt by Sarah Mayberry

Why I picked it up: Twitter again! (You may find that to be a common theme here.)  I told Sayrui_x that I felt like I had an unhealthy relationship with the Blaze line since I keep going back even though the last few books I’ve picked out of the catalogue have been really horrible fits for me. She told me to get my hands on some Sarah Mayberry, and even though she rec’d a different book, I’d been eyeing this one for a while. Because, you know… a boxing heroine! Heck yeah!

Thoughts: Sayuri_x told me she’d yet to rec Mayberry to anyone who didn’t end up a convert. I believe her now! I’m having a hard time avoiding punny jokes about how this book knocked my socks off. But it did.  There was nothing about it I didn’t enjoy.  The heroine, the hero, the conflict, the plot and especially the resolution.  There were a lot of ways a typically portrayed alpha male ego could have turned this book into a depressing commentary on how women can only be tough before they fall in love.  No disappointments here.  And it made me love Cooper a lot.

Recommended to: People who like their heroines non-traditional and in touch with their sexuality.  Or who like tough, badass heroes who can get past their manly alpha hangups when it means proving that they love the heroine more than their own egos.

Grimspace by Ann Aguirre

Why I picked it up: Shannon C told me to. Okay, she told me to like, last year, but I was in a huge paranormal-only mood so in the end I picked up Ann Aguirre’s Blue Diablo first. Then I enjoyed it so much I finally got around to reading Grimspace, which I loved beyond love. Shannon might have said “Told you so” a few times. I will never doubt her again.

Thoughts: This is, without doubt, my favorite book I’ve read in the last few years. This book prompted me to fangirl Ann Aguirre in ways that I’m amazed haven’t provoked a restraining order yet.  (Don’t run, Ann, I’m harmless, I swear!) I’ve read my share of sci-fi and it’s always been a favorite genre, but sometimes I get a little emo that so little of it seems to be character-driven.  I like my social commentary and sweeping philosophical questions as much as the next person, but most of the time I’m reading a book for the characters.

I have rarely read a sci-fi book where the characters were this compelling, and interesting, and flawed and fabulous all at once.  Ann Aguirre’s main appeal for me is how much her books are truly ensemble stories, with challenges that can’t be met without the combined teamwork of all of the characters, and this is no exception. Just fan-freaking-tastic. (This book also turns me into an incoherent babbler. You should see the fanmail I sent about it.)

Recommended to: Fans of character driven sci-fi. People who like damaged heroines who learn and grow over the course of several books. Fans of badass, stone-cold killers on a path to redemption.  EVERYONE. (Okay, not people who only like romance. This is romantic sci-fi, not sci-fi romance.)

Laid Bare by Lauren Dane

Why I picked it up: I like damaged heroines. I really like damaged heroines who are damaged emotionally instead of sexually.  One late night (on twitter, of course) I was talking to Ann Aguirre about my love-on for damaged heroines, and she taunted me with how much I was going to love Laid Bare. A taunt because it doesn’t come out until August 4th, you see.  Luckily for me, Lauren Dane is a benevolent author who didn’t leave me suffering under Ann Aguirre’s cruel taunts, and so I scored myself an ARC. Rock the hell on! (Literally, the heroine is a rocker!)

Thoughts: Ann Aguirre was not wrong. Wow, Erin Brown is pretty much the heroine I’ve been looking for.  She’s smart, she’s tough, she’s down with her freaky side and perfectly okay with exactly what she wants in the bedroom.  I’ll admit, I’ve got a thing for heroines who intimidated past boyfriends with their badass sexuality. I loved her as a character, I cheered for her the whole time, and she made the book for me.

This book features two heroes and a heroine forming a lasting relationship, and I admit, I don’t read a lot of books like that.  Not because I’m averse to the hot sex with three people (and man this book was sizzling!) but because it takes a deft hand to tackle the complicated dynamics between three people trying to build a life together, and if any of those potential pitfalls are glossed over, I find it less satisfying.  Lauren Dane did an especially impressive job building this happily ever after brick by brick, until I really believed in it.  And oh yeah, did I mention the sex?  It’ll burn your eyebrows off.  Oh yeah it will! H-a-w-t, people.

Recommended to: Fans of tough heroines overcoming a traumatic past.  Anyone who likes the good boys who are bad in the sack, or the bad boys who are downright dirty between the sheets.  Or, you know, anyone who likes steamy hot loving.

Mark of the Demon by Diana Rowland

Why I picked it up: I think Donna found Diana Rowland on twitter first, but eventually I ended up following her too, because man she’s funny! And man her first book looked good.  Angela James spent some time taunting me about how she already had a copy (in case you don’t know, Angela James is actually a cruel temptress and a ninja, and you absolutely may not quote me on that) and eventually Diana took pity on us and let us read it. (I’m sensing a theme. Am I this pathetic in my twitterly whimpering?)

Thoughts: FUN! Yes, that is my first thought.  This was absolutely an awesomely fun book to read.  I liked the demons and the world building around them, and I enjoyed Kara’s (mis)adventures while trying to solve a serial killer case that she knows has plenty to do with the arcane.  Diana Rowland knows how to scatter the red herrings about, and she had me convinced that about 5 different people were the big bad during the course of the book.

I also really enjoyed her characters.  And in true Bree fashion I’ve already latched on to my favorite, but anyone who knows me should know that a cute fed who likes comic books has my heart from day one. I’m totally looking forward to the next book, which I hear comes out in early 2010.  Mark your calendars!

Recommended to: Fans of urban fantasy, people who are pretty sure CSI is lying when they turn around DNA results in 11.2 seconds, anyone who likes their bad boys so bad they might actually be Demon Lords.

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So, those are a few of my favorite recent reads. What have y’all been loving on lately that I simply must try?