Recommendations from Karin

In order to bring some more variety to my blog, I have asked some of my bookish friends to tell about the books they have in the past month, and to give us a recommendation. Today’s post is made by Karin from Austria.

Karin:

I have read 12 new books in the past month, and the 3 books I enjoyed the most are:

1. My One and Only by Kristan Higgins



2. Allegiance Sworn by Kylie Griffin



3. Bound by Night by Larissa Ione




This month’s recommendation is quite difficult - I enjoyed most of the books I’ve read and so I decided to throw dice (more or less).The first place was taken by Kristan Higgins but what to do with the rest of the books I loved? Kylie Griffin’s book is the number three in the Light Blade series and I liked all three books but I think that was the most intensive. And Larissa Ione is usually better than third place but this is the first book in a new series and there was much world building to do and two things bothered me about this book  so number three.

The book I would like to recommend is: My One and Only by Kristan Higgins



Divorce attorney Harper James can't catch a break. Bad enough that she runs into her ex-hubby, Nick, at her sister's destination wedding, but now, by a cruel twist of fate, she's being forced to make a cross-country road trip with him. And her almost-fiancé back at home is not likely to be sympathetic.
Harper can't help that Nick has come blazing back into her life in all of his frustratingly appealing, gorgeous architect glory. But in Nick's eyes, Harper's always been the one. If they can only get it right this time, forever might be waiting - just around the bend.


Kristan Higgins is a kind of hit – and - miss – author for me. She writes in the first person which is something I usually don’t enjoy that much because I like to hear the thoughts of the other characters too. I even bought one book that I did not finish, which is rare for me, but the heroine was too big an idiot in my opinion.
Now with this book you will find Higgins at her best. The story is told - as usually – by the heroine, who is a divorce attorney, a veritable shark in her profession. The way the book begins you will find Higgins’s trademark humour when Harper describes how good she is at her job. She is about to propose to her significant other whom she has been dating for more than two years. This scene is hilarious. Long story short – her stepsister wants her to be the bridesmaid and the bridegroom is Harper’s ex-brother-in-law; so she is going to meet her ex husband who of course is the best man.
We learn about Harper’s background, her relationship with Nick and why it failed, her family and her personal development in bits and pieces throughout the book. There are some heartbreaking scenes intermingled with scenes where I found myself laughing out loud. The supporting characters are so well described that I could see BeverLee, Harper’s stepmother, before me, wielding a giant can of hairspray. For those who love animals (like me) there is a cute dog involved.
To sum up without giving too much away – I read the book in one sitting and I enjoyed myself immensely. The final scene where Harper is going to declare her love for Nick! Believe me, you don’t want to miss that.
As a new year is about to begin I want to wish you all Happy Holidays and a year 2014 that is filled with all kinds of good books.

Aurian: Thanks for the recommendation Karin! I have never read a Kristan Higgins book, but I certainly will add this one to my wishlist. And Happy Holidays to you as well, and let’s hope 2014 will be filled with some amazing books.
How about you, reader, have you read any of those top 3 books or authors?

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian