Recommendations from Karin for July 2014.

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 8 new books this month and there are more than three that I would like to recommend. Still – I have to make choices. So I settled for:

Mary Balogh: The Arrangement



Carolyn Jewel: My Immortal Assassin



Sherry Thomas: The Burning Sky




I decided I would recommend Mary Balogh’s “The Arrangement” as the best book because although hero and heroine are a little bit too young for my liking, Balogh delivered a delightful story of two young people growing to love each other and also growing up. This book is part of a series (Survivor’s Club) and I liked this second installment a lot better than the first one. I will definitely keep on reading this series about six men and one woman who suffered horribly during the Napoleonic Wars and are on the way to heal their terrible wounds (bodily and mentally), helping each other and – of course – finding the loves of their lives.
Carolyn Jewel is a jewel I discovered by chance. “My Immortal Assassin” is also part of an ongoing series called “My Immortal” and I liked this book a lot, so much so that I will continue to read this series.

“The Burning Sky” by Sherry Thomas came as somewhat of a surprise. I have a love-hate relationship with Sherry Thomas (although she wouldn’t know that of course). Her books either appeal to me from the blurbs or they don’t. If I buy a book against my better judgment, I end up thinking, “Not bad, but she has done better.” Now this book is labeled as YA and I’m not really a fan of this genre (I’m wayyyyyyy too old to enjoy that usually!!!). But although the book has a certain simple writing style I have to confess I enjoyed it a lot. I’d even go so far as to say I’m waiting for the next installment- it’s going to be a trilogy.

I’d like to talk a little bit more about Sherry Thomas if you don’t mind. Actually I will do it even if you mind. So, if you are not a fan of Sherry Thomas, you had better stop reading now. This author intrigued me from the first book I’ve read by her. It was not a keeper but I keep checking out her website because I end up finding gemstones like “Not Quite a Husband”. She writes historical romances that take place at the end of the 19th century and she writes them in a most unusual way. I highly recommend checking out her book list on her website – you might find something worth reading.
She is going to publish a duology in the next two weeks. “The Hidden Blade” seems to be self-published and will be as e-book only as far as I could gather. It’s a companion to “My Beloved Enemy”. I read the excerpt and was intrigued ever since. I can hardly wait for August 5th to come around.

Also I would like to draw your attention to C.L. Wilson’s “The Winter King” which is finally going to be published on July 29th.



So this has not really been a recommendation for one book in the good old sense but I still hope you might find something that you would like to check out. Happy reading!!


Aurian: Thanks for the recommendation Karin! I have also been waiting many years for the Winter King, and I will only believe it is coming when I find it on my doormat.
I do have many books by Mary Balogh, but I don’t think I have read one since I started reading in English. Sherry Thomas is also on my shelves unread. One day ...
I have read some Carolyn Jewel books, and have many more on my shelves to read some day.

© 2014 Reviews by Aurian