My favorite (fun) (feminine) (fabulous) mystery series...

As I continue with my Deep Thoughts on Books (c), I’ve noticed that I have a definite preference for the types of mystery series I read… and by read, I mean, devour and swallow up all the books in one go.

If you’ve looked at my list of why I love the books I do, you’ll see instantly that all these books I’m about to recommend pretty much tick all of my boxes: female-focused, mystery, humor/ great voice, and with a fair share of romantic interest.

So here are my most beloved mystery series… (in no particular order.) I’ve helpfully included the link to book 1 in each series. You’re very welcome.

The Royal Spyness series by Rhys Bowen
Amazon || Apple Books

This is one of the few that I have NOT read all the books in the series, but I still feel confident recommending it. I’m savoring each of the adventures of Lady Georgianna, 34th in line to the throne.

Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich
Amazon || Apple Books

This is pretty much the book that inspired a thousand authors to try to be half as funny and half as engaging as the mishaps of a bounty hunter in Trenton, NJ.

Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris

Amazon || Apple Books

This is the series that got me back to reading after I had my youngest child. I read the first eight of these books in a week, I think. They were so addictive and original and, this may be an unpopular opinion, but I enjoyed the books far more than the show. Which was good, too! For reasons.

Below Stairs Mysteries by Jennifer Ashley
Amazon || Apple Books

Now this series is still ongoing, but I’ve recommended it to so many people (and on this blog!). I just love the heroine and all the Downton Abbey-esque details of her Below Stairs life.

Lady Julia Grey Mysteries by Deanna Raybourn
Amazon || Apple Books

Now Ms. Raybourn has two wonderful historical mystery series out, this one and her Veronica Speedwell series and I did hesitate about which one to recommend. After all, the Lady Julia Grey series has concluded and Veronica Speedwell is still continuing, to the best of my knowledge. In the end, I picked Lady Julia Grey because I’ve actually re-read them (is that weird? Even though I’ve already read the resolution?) and because if you start with Julia, you can keep going all the way through Veronica.

And of course, I have to recommend my own fun, fabulous, feminine mystery series. If you like Sookie Stackhouse and Stephanie Plum all rolled up in a Elle Woods package, check out Margot Blythe.

Amazon || Apple Books

What are your favorite mystery series? I know there are so many more that I need to dive into… like JD Robb. I KNOW I KNOW. But the sheer number of books in the series just intimidates me. I fear I won’t be able to read anything else and then a year will go by and I’ll come out of my cave not knowing what has happened in the world.

So. Any recommendations for me? ;-)

Best Books to Read Now - April 2017

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

FAN GIRL ALERT!!!

Gushing ahead!!!

Magic Binds - Ilona Andrews

I'm not even going to apologize. I am a Level A1 Ilona Andrews fan girl, as I've stated before. Magic Binds is Book 9 of the Kate Daniels series and one of the best. I can't even explain why, it just had everything I love about the best of Ilona Andrews, crazy yet loyal friends and families, strong women and the strong men that love them and completely unique world building.

And while we're talking about THE BEST of Ilona Andrews.... The first book in their new series, Burn For Me  is on sale for $.99. It originally came out in 2014 and I have read it, no lie, at least four or five times since. So yes, you can say I recommend it. Read it now and then you'll be able to read the next two with me when they're released this summer.

Dark Road to Darjeeling - Deanna Raybourn

This was book 4 of the Lady Julia Gray series and this time Julia and her family take the trip to India to solve crimes in their oh-so-English way. I've read books about colonial India since a very young age (I'm not making that up. That would be a weird thing to make up.) and this story felt lovely and familiar.

Belgravia - Julian Fellowes

I almost picked Belgravia to be my book club selection.  I picked Big Little Lies instead but grabbed this one for Spring Break reading. As the cover says, the author is the author of Downton Abbey so if you were a Lady Cora fan...

I mean, a Dowager Countess fan, you'll be quite happy with this Upstairs/Downstairs tale of scandal and family in the early Victorian era.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot

If you haven't read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks yet, do yourself a favor and read it now before the HBO series starts this month.  If you loved Hidden Figures, this book will also tell you a story of science and the amazing contribution of an African-American woman who never got the acknowledgment she deserved.  I first read this with a prior book club. We were a diverse group and this book kept us talking for hours about science, ethics, and American history.

[embed]http://https://youtu.be/FaFJya7FVSM[/embed]

So… as always, I’d love to hear what you’ve read or are reading. Throw those suggestions at me down below or keep in touch on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook.  And are you subscribed to my newsletter?

If not, WHY NOT?  My newsletter subscribers get all the news about new books, sales and contests, FIRST – sign up here and keep in touch! There will be some awesome stuff coming up soon!

 Until next month, Happy Reading!!!

Best Books to Read Now - June 2016

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

Um...how did it get to be summer already? The kids are out of school, the weather is  getting  too sticky for my walks and I'm finding myself reaching for a beautiful chilled rose instead of a cup of  tea.

Summer  is such a fabulous reading time, isn't it? You've got trips and vacations and lazy days by a pool or the lake and we all need reads that will  take  us away.

Once again, I've  got an  interesting mix this  month. I  dug up some reads from my TBR pile, took a chance on a new trope and indulged in continuing a  series.

Silent in the Sanctuary / Silent on the Moor by Deanna Raybourn

silent on the moor

silent in the sanctuary

First up?  Two more Lady Julia Gray mysteries!  My husband and I were able to escape to  Cabo San Lucas for a quick getaway to celebrate my birthday.  I posted pics on my

instagram

and our trip was as heavenly as it looked. I have this (strange?) affinity for reading about rainy, cold locations while sweltering by a pool so reading about Lady Julia Gray at Belmont Abbey and on the Yorkshire moors  was perfect for me. 

Silent in the Sanctuary

kept me guessing the entire  time  and

Silent on the Moor

was an unusual mystery in that it was piecing together a mystery from the past. Two more winners from Ms. Raybourn.

A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev

bollywood affair

Shamefully, this book has been in  my Kindle for YEARS. YEARS. Y'all know how that happens.  You one-click a book because of rave  reviews and a gorgeous cover and then... life. Other  books. Pretty soon, your new pretty book is on page four or  five  in your Paperwhite and  you keep thinking, "why haven't I read

A Bollywood Affair

" when you see the constant recommendations on Twitter.  So  because I'm awesome like that, I finally opened this one... and I couldn't put it down.

It's a contemporary Indian romance, set in the U.S. (... mostly) but the characters are wholly influenced by their culture and history back in India. There's a complicated relationship between the hero and heroine - you know, your typical "my brother's annulled child bride" trope.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the unique cultural and plot points and Ms. Dev truly shines in writing characters jump off the page, fully realized and nuanced and loveable.

Simply Irresistible by Rachel Gibson

simply irressistible

Speaking of tropes, the secret baby trope is... not my favorite.  Especially in contemporary romance.  A few years ago, I gave one a shot and, um.  Let's just say I was not planning on reading another one.  Until I was listening to the

Avon on the Air podcast

and  Sarah MacLean said this was the secret baby book that would convert people who didn't like secret baby books and while I respect Ms. MacLean's professional expertise, I was dubious.  Because SECRET BABY, y'all. But I bought it because HOCKEY PLAYER HERO.  You see where my priorities lie.

Turns out, Sarah MacLean was right. *sigh*   This book is a joy, the characters totally made me believe in the secret baby and I'm *semi* converted to secret baby books if they're recommended by Ms. MacLean.

*Note* on Avon on the Air.  I'm trying really hard to be respectful here and call Lucia Macro and Sarah MacLean by their proper names. Because when I listen to this podcast, I'm totally calling them "Lu" and "Mac" and discussing books in my head with them (or whoever's on the podcast.) I just love talking books, even if its an imaginary conversation.

See

, also, this blog.  If y'all know of any other awesome book podcasts, let me know because I'll happily talk to other podcasters in my head.

Or if you know other good secret baby books, let me know about those, too.  I will readily admit that I could be, maybe,  a little wrong about secret babies.

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

the winter sea

Here's another from the TBR pile.  This one, unlike A Bollywood Affair was not buried in my kindle. It was on my bookcase. Because it was an actual, physical hardcopy of the book (shocker, right?) that my mom had 'loaned' to me a few years ago. I always knew I'd like Susanna Kearsley's timetravel-esque book about 18th century Scotland because I have a well-documented love for other time-travelly 18th century Scotland books.  *cough* Outlander *cough*

On a side note, this season's

Outlander

is KILLING ME.  Just knowing what is coming at the end of the season is preliminarily devastating me. I'm texting my friends after each episode asking them for comfort because the end is going to be so exquisitely terrible and then we'll have to wait a stupid amount of time before Season 3 starts...

or maybe not

??

So yes, Ms. Kearsley's novel did not disappoint.  It flips back and forth between the past and present and while no actual time-travel  takes place, you, the reader, feels as if it has.  I can't wait to read another Kearsley novel, especially after I heard her  

interview on the SMART BITCHES podcast.

(another podcast where I talk to another Sarah in my head all the time. I swear, I'm completely normal.)

And that's it for this month!  I'm not sure I'll have an official BEST BOOKS TO READ NOW post in July.   I'm doing a lot of non-fiction research for a new book I'm writing and I'll be headed to RWA nationals in San Diego  (where I'll be sure to add to my TBR pile, natch).  I may do a Best of Best Books post instead and then my usual post RWA roundup.

Oh! I'm also busy getting this little baby out the door.

The Last Plus One

The Last Plus One eBook Cover 400x600

Her release date is 6.13.16 and you can read more about it here.  If you're not already, make sure you like

THE LAST PLUS ONE facebook page

and

sign up for my newsletter

. We're doing a few giveaways, posting excerpts and talking about weddings and you don't want to miss any of that.

As always, keep reading and let me know if you read something amazing!

Best Books To Read Now: March 2016

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

Another interesting mix of stories this month,but these are all by authors I am a major fangirl for. Shall we get started??

Wife for the Weekend by Ophelia London

wftw

If you know me on social media or have followed this blog, you'll recognize the name Ophelia London. The first time I met her in person at a DARA meeting, I kind of (yes, I did) freaked out on her, and gushed about her (then) latest release, Definitely, Maybe In Love (If you love Pride & Prejudice, and you want a modern retelling, check it out). We've become good friends since, and I'm still a fangirl of her personally and of her books. In fact, I was lucky enough to get an early ARC of this book because that dear sweet girl asked me to write a blurb for her.  See it there? In tiny letters on the top of the cover? That's how I feel about this funny, sweet book about how two opposites can attract.

Be Not Afraid by Alyssa Cole

be not afraid

I think I've only met Alyssa Cole once in person, at last year's RWA, but it feels like I've *known* her for longer, in that way that you do when you tweet and podcast with someone.  When we met, she gave me the biggest, warmest hug and well, I'm just a huge fan. We guested on the same episode of First Draught  last year and we shared that we both (coincidentally?) had books where someone gets killed in the first scene; this was the book she was discussing. Yes, it's a romance, lol.  It's a short novella set during the American Revolution and if you're obsessed with Hamilton, like I am (Hey Universe, still waiting on those tickets, thx) you will love this story.

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

julia grey

And I am officially obsessed with this author and series now. My darling friend Erika had been telling me to get on this for a long, long time and I finally did and OMG.

whoa

I'm trying to savor the Lady Julia Grey series and not rip through them like I am known to do.  If you like modern women in historical times, mystery and dark, forbidding heroes, you will love this book.  And Ms. Raybourn seems like a peach so I'm fangirling hard for her, as well.

The Bourbon Kings  by JR Ward

bourbon

Someone who doesn't need another fangirl is J.R. Ward. The woman is worshipped by millions for her Black Dagger Brotherhood series and I've read them all. Here's the deal about the BDB; they're badass, supernatural vampires who live like Jay Z and look like, I don't know, hot wrestlers. Then J.R. Ward starts this series, about a Kentucky bourbon dynasty and I was like...

rashida straw

But somehow a privileged Southern family is just as insane as rap-star vampires. This book is a total throwback to 1980's Jackie Collins/ Dynasty/ soap opera gloriousness. It's ludicrous and no one is a nice person and you see the plot twists from a mile away and you just want to gobble it up like a one pound bag of peanut M&Ms.  My advice? Wait for this summer, when the sequel comes out and you'll have two cracktastic sagas to enjoy by the pool

So what else is new?

MEAN SISTERS, (the UK version of Sisterhood is Deadly (which is on sale for $.99! for a limited time!)), releases in the UK on March 17, 2016 and is currently for sale via pre-order for .99!

I had such an amazing response to my last Goodreads giveaway, that I'm doing another one and giving away another 2 books to celebrate the print release of RUSHING TO DIE.  Check it out!

We're headed to the mountains for Spring Break so I'm going to fill up my Kindle with something amazing to read in the lodge while everyone else skis... Any suggestions?