Friday Book and Music Talk
Jan
14
2011

I’m already behind on my reading again. But it’s for a good reason, I promise! Being sick and then finishing Never Enough set me back, but I’ve got the new Eileen Wilks cracked open and at my bedside and I will make some headway because I love Lily and Rule to pieces (and Eileen Willks’ writing as well).

Coming up I’m absolutely impatient for Nalini Singh’s Archangel’s Consort – it comes out on the 25th! I’ll talk more about this one next week because I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek and you’re all not going to be sorry you picked this one up! Essentially, the way it goes for me is that I’ll read whatever Nalini Singh writes because I love her work. She’s fantastic and both this series and her Psy/Changeling series are among my favorites.

A book I did get to while in Oahu was Jaci Burton’s The Perfect Play, coming out at the beginning of February. SO GOOD! As well as having one of, if not the sexiest covers ever, it’s a sexy, funny, fabulous book I’ll also be talking more about the last week of January. Jaci has yet another rousing success on her hands with this new series. Mick is one of those heroes readers will be talking about for a long time. Yum!

Also while on vacation last month I did a re-read of Lara Adrian’s last two Breed books – Shades of Midnight – set in Alaska where Kade has come, wondering if someone he once loved is responsible for multiple killings – and he meets Alex, a bush pilot with a mysterious past. And then of course I wanted to re-read Taken By Midnight. Only it was back at home in paper. So I was able to get on the Nook and grab it right then. Just one of the million reasons I love my ebook reader! Taken By Midnight is Brock and Jenna’s book and for me, one of my favorites of the entire series (which I blatantly adore and think is one of the very best paranormal series out there today). I truly can’t wait to see what Lara Adrian has coming up next for her fans!

And Megan Hart’s first MIRA title, Precious and Fragile Things – just wow. First things first – THIS BOOK IS NOT A ROMANCE. It isn’t (nor is it labeled as such). This book is unsettling and harsh and at very small times, beautiful. As always her writing is humbling to me because it’s just flat out amazing. Here’s my review without spoilers:

In Megan Hart’s first MIRA title, she sets the bar high with Precious and Fragile things. First things first – this is NOT a romance. If you’re looking for a romance or hot sex you won’t find them here.

What you will find is a gut punch of emotion from the first page until you’re done. This book is incredibly emotionally taut and intense. The focus is intense and unrelenting. She’s stripped both characters down and put them in an isolated, snowed in cabin and then sets about revealing them both in an unflinching manner.

This book grabbed me and never let me go. Hart’s writing is, as usual, masterful and yet delicate and subtle when others would use a cudgel. At the same time, this story is dark and jagged. Grim in parts, as such a situation would be.

In the end, I can only come back to my awe at the way this story holds the reader’s attention very close to many of the parts of ourselves we may not want to accept or acknowledge. But they’re there and it takes guts to make people not only look, but to walk away feeling like those hours she’s spent reading have been worth every moment.

I’m now fully immersed in Heart of Darkness and my book tracklist is nearly done. For me, I listen to my iTunes on shuffle until songs come to me, or I try them out when I see them – so the process may take a week or two until it all falls into place (yes, I’m odd. I also can’t write without a title)

Here are a few

Threshold from the Scott Pilgrim vs The World movie

Stone Temple Pilots – Down

Johnny Cash covering Hurt (I also have the Reznor version on the tracklist too)

Jay Z’s 99 Problems

There are more of course, LOL, but I’ll hold off here for the day. Enjoy your Friday everyone! (and remember my facebook fan page will have snippets from Heart of Darkness as I write it!)

2 comments to “Friday Book and Music Talk”

  1. Diane Sadler
    January 14th, 2011 at 6:15 pm · Link

    I’ve read the Lara Adrian books already and loved them; looking forward to the next one: Deeper than Midnight.
    I also read all of Nalini Singh’s books but even better is listening to the audio books, they are awesome!



  2. Christine
    January 15th, 2011 at 7:22 am · Link

    I love The archangel series myself and can’t wait for the next one. As well as Lara’s series. Jaci’s book is on my list and the music for you new book is always interesting to listen to. Johnny Cash’s Hurt is especially moving