Days are getting shorter in the northern hemisphere, and having to spend less time working outside means more glorious time to tuck in with a good book. And as many of my long-time favorite authors have new books out, I’ve been luxuriating in an abundance of fabulous reads. I’m already afraid I’ll run out of complimentary adjectives.
Sherry Thomas is a writer who can quite literally do it all. She’s written historical romance, contemporaries, YA and historical fantasy, and mystery, and I can honestly say I’ve read and loved every book she’s ever published. In THE LIBRARIANS, her newest title, the author’s reverence for libraries and the people who work there shines through as she weaves a complicated tale of international intrigue that culminates in murder outside a small, suburban Austin library. The full scope of the plot comes into focus gradually; imagine an empty stage where one prop at a time is carried on as the action unfolds, and only as the final scene plays out does the entire set design become clear. I know other readers will react as I did and immediately wish to start rereading as soon as the last page is turned.
Halloween has come and gone, but the evil spirit who haunts Nora Roberts’s historic Maine manor house faces a final reckoning in THE SEVEN RINGS. Sonya MacTavish is absolutely determined not only to remain in the haunted house she inherited from her uncle, but also to vanquish the malevolent specter who has killed Poole family brides for generations and stolen their rings. With the help of her best friend, her cousin, and of course a brave and devoted boyfriend who supports his woman in all things (that’s not sarcasm; Ms. Roberts has for decades set a standard for exemplary romantic relationships, and she codifies it here in her portrayal of Sonya and Trey), Sonya braves fire, falling walls, and flying missiles in her fight against a seemingly immortal villain. The cast of secondary characters is both entertaining and enviable, especially when the victimized spirits from earlier times come to Sonya’s aid. Having hovered as an invisible guest myself for the three years it’s taken for the trilogy to resolve, I’ll miss these brave and competent players and the sound of the waves crashing outside the gates of the Poole manor.
Julia Spencer-Fleming writes s-l-o-w-l-y, but her tenth book in the gripping Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne series makes the wait worthwhile. Set in a fictional upstate New York hamlet in the Adirondack foothills, the story of a female Episcopal priest and the town police chief has, over the years, explored many of the major issues of our times: poverty, addiction, racial antagonisms, and socio-political feuds through one scary scenario after another. In AT MIDNIGHT COMES THE CRY, Clare and Russ struggle with major changes in their personal lives while a possible serial murderer kills a young woman using the same MO mysteriously employed thirty and sixty years earlier. Ms. Spencer-Fleming is a beautiful writer who tells an engrossing story, simultaneously touching the reader’s heart and making us think twice about turning out the light.
Sarina Bowen is yet another tried and true author who delivered spectacularly this month. THROWN FOR A LOOP is all I could ask for in contemporary romance: a strong, gorgeous hockey player, an accomplished talented female coach, a second chance love story that pulls hard at my heart strings, and a promise of more to come with a wonderful cast of secondary characters. Ms. Bowen writes crisp, beautifully descriptive prose that will have you convinced you’ve just witnessed an amazing skating performance that you’ll be able to re-watch on YouTube. I loved Chase and Zoe, and I would happily have read a book twice as long to stay in their world.
Last on my list for this month is an author long beloved by many, but somehow I’d never read her before. HERO EVER AFTER is a fabulous introduction to Kait Nolan. The story is timely (it covers the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina) and showcases the wonderfully normalized lifestyles of a wide variety of colorful characters. Alia and Ramsey have loved each other from afar for years, but life has kept them apart. Working together to help the town they both love provides an opportunity for them to step out from the shadows. There are terrific subplots concerning the online fandom surrounding romantasy and a perfect puppy. Expect me to gush about more of Ms. Nolan’s work in the future.
Paying a return visit to a beloved author is always rewarding. Grab one of my books (maybe start with SECOND ACT), and I promise you’ll be back for a second round. Happy reading!
Meg's friends during her high school years all expected her romance novels to hit the shelves decades ago, but she foolishly allowed "serious pursuits" to get in her way. Now that her beloved children can feed, clothe, and most importantly, support themselves, she's free to turn her attention to her first passion - putting words to paper that capture your attention and make your heart sing in quiet joy. Her stories tell most frequently of second chances--in life, love, and sometimes even at rediscovering a soul-mate from a previous life.
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