February Old & New
February is the longest month here in New Jersey. We’re all ready for spring, and it’s still weeks away. Good thing we’ve got books!
The Best of the Old
His At Night
by Sherry Thomas
I write contemporary romance, but I seriously adore historicals, and the ones I love best? I read them over and over. From 2010, His At Night by Sherry Thomas is a real keeper. Sherry Thomas writes characters that are wonderfully complex. The heroine in this book is smart, compassionate, desperate and willing to push the boundaries to get what she wants. The hero has a wild mix of I- don’t-want-her but I-gotta-have-her angst going on. You might have guessed if you read Tough Sell, that I love to read about people trapped by their past, and Sherry Thomas explores that theme frequently in her books. For sheer reading pleasure, her command of language and building of tension between her characters is a joy. If you haven’t read Delicious, also written by her, you should try that one. She substitutes a teacake for sex and quite frankly, I blame her for my over-consumption of madeleines in 2008, the year that book came out.
The Not So New
The Hard Sell
by Lulu Wright
All the time I was writing Tough Sell, I was working under the title Hard Sell. When it came time to publish, a new book had come on the scene titled, you got it, The Hard Sell. Since it was released in 2016, that gives you an idea of how long I was lost in my writing. I changed my title, but I had to read The Hard Sell by Lulu Wright. This book is a fun romp through the changing rooms and loading docks of the menswear section of a department store. The heroine is the best part of this story. She’s a modern-day Cinderella, working her butt off, stocking shelves and trying to sell high-end underwear to men. Talk about a hard sell. She gets up every day, heads to work, helping men package their package. Go her! It’s a rom-com, and it’s just good hardworking fun.
The Brand New
My Hookup Girl
by Nicky Fox
I picked up Nicky’s book because she’s an Indie author who works with Marla Esposito at www.ProofingStyle.com. The first thing I can say about My Hookup Girl is the first line is terrific. This book is Nicky’s second in her series. Her book is well suited to the genre. If you love first-person, new-adult contemporary reads, you’ll enjoy this. There is a secondary plot in there in the shape of a minor mystery, which didn’t jump out at me right away. My engagement level climbed when the first unexplained event ( regarding a car) came into the mix. I wish there had been one or two more events earlier on. Nicky wraps up all the storylines nicely, nothing is left hanging, and the characters are loveable, of course. The writing style can be repetitive, reminding me of Emma Chase’s early books. I expect, like Ms. Chase, Nick fox will work that out in subsequent books, and I will buy another one. Nicely done, Nicky. Three cheers for getting your stuff out there and then doing it again.