Miranda's June Musings
Winter has hit Australia after a spectacularly warm autumn. All the 'winter reading' lists have come out. Glorious big fat books you can get lost in on those long evenings, snuggled into a cosy chair under a warm blanket next to the fire.
So what you consider 'winter reading'? For those in the northern hemisphere there is also the association of winter with Christmas, which makes for a plethora of frozen festive reading. But Down Under, where it rarely snows in, well, a lot of Australia (even though it gets very frosty and can be sub-zero), what do you enjoy reading?
Do you enjoy romance with lots of snow and ice? I can distinctly remember reading Linda Howard's book Ice and nearly turned into a popsicle. Loved it! All warm and cuddly, nothing to worry about where I was, but everything to worry about in the book, one heck of an icy adventure with a policeman and a fabulously strong heroine.
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| Picture credit: amazon.com |
Another chilly romantic suspense on my fave list is Karen Robards' thrilling Darkness. A truly spectacular book set in remote Alaska. The opening scene is just wow, when a scientist horrifyingly witnesses a plane crash over the Bering Sea. With tremendous difficulty she manages to fish one survivor out of the water before he dies. By the time they get back to her station all her colleagues have been murdered, and it looks like they're next on the hit list. Just thinking about it makes me get the shivers. Ooh.
Picture credit: amazon.com
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Or do you prefer something a bit cosier like Debbie Macomber's Starry Night? Out a few years ago, this was festive fare set in remote Alaska (again), with a hero trying to dodge a persistent city columnist. The cover is to die for and I loved the story, that instant clash between the hero and heroine.
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| Picture credit: amazon.com |
Notice the common thread of ice, snow, freezing locales and such? Is this your winter reading?! Or do you prefer reading a book set on the beach, so you can pretend you're feeling that heat while you're actually trying to defrost your toes? Something like Michelle Douglas' sun-drenched, gorgeous book Miss Prim's Greek Island Fling, which is so gloriously warm you could use it as a hot water bottle. Who doesn't want a wonderful Greek island retreat, with a hero and heroine who could never really get on in the past - but things seem to have changed?
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| Picture credit: amazon.com |
Would absolutely love to know what you prefer.
Lots of love while I toast my toes,
Miranda xxx
Love to Love:
Enjoying some vicarious snow.Love to Laugh:
At how quickly winter suddenly came in. My favourite season!
Love to Learn:
What do you consider winter reading? Snow and ice while you're snuggled up, or hot sun so you can 'pretend' it's warm outside?
Hi Miranda. I'm partial to a warm, cosy setting if a book is a light romance. For stories where danger is prevalent through the pages, if they're taking place outside Australia then I prefer the characters isolated in the freezing cold. If set in Australia, though, the brutal heat of an Outback summer, like in 'The Dry' or 'Scrublands' is my preference. So much danger there!
ReplyDeleteWow, Enisa, broad range there! And yes, the extremes of temperatures, freezing to scorching, provides almost another level of danger to the characters. Love that too!
DeleteI'm not so concerned about setting as long as the story is good and keeps my interest. I do love though when setting is part of the story.
ReplyDeleteIn the end, Cassandra, I think we all enjoy a good story and roll with the setting. And yes, a good story can become a great story when that all important setting takes it to the next level. So much for the author to get 'just right'!
DeleteHi Miranda! I'm an eclectic reader - everything from romance (and all its sub-genres) to fantasy to thrillers - so what matters most to me is not setting or season, but a story I can immerse myself in peopled by unique characters.
ReplyDeleteSo true for so many people, Marilyn! But I certainly enjoy that extra edge provided by the setting. I love the way your unique Australian outback settings (pearl farming, opal mining) give the reader a wonderful insight into something they may never see in real life. Also nice and warm!
DeleteI do love reading snowy Christmas scenes when we're sweltering away in the heat here in Australia, Miranda. And I love reading warm beachy scenes when it's cold and rainy outside and I'm all rugged up inside. So chuffed that Miss Prim has made your winter reading list (a hot water bottle of a book! -- you made my day with that description :-D).
ReplyDeleteMichelle, thanks so much for stopping by! Lovely to have you here. To be honest, although I do love the snow and ice while the temp drops here, like you, I also love the snow and ice in our sweltering heat! It helps to pretend I might get cool, even a little bit...!!! And as for your lovely Miss Prim, I read her while it was still warm outside, and she is perfect for any time of year! Such a delightful book. I'm sure she will warm a lot of people's hearts this winter.
DeleteHi Miranda, thanks for the winter reading suggestions. I'm a Debbie Macomber fan, but look forward to also reading your other suggestions.
ReplyDeleteI'm SO with you on the Debbie Macomber books, Sharon! She is a warm, shining delight to read, isn't she? I'd be thrilled if you picked up any of the other books, too, or have more suggestions for me. So many books, so little time, but oh what a journey we have. Enjoy your winter reading. xx
DeleteHi Miranda, Some gorgeous winter reading suggestions, thank you! I've been looking forward to Miss Prim's Greek Island Fling - the cover just won me instantly! I have to admit I don't think the weather influences my reading choices - more whichever book is going to fall on me first from my sky-high TBR pile :) x
ReplyDeleteOh you will enjoy Miss Prim, Jayne! And wonderful to hear you don't mind whatever comes your way. I confess I'm a bit the same, although these 'winter' and 'summer' reading lists really seem to be a Thing now!
DeleteThank you for this article, Miranda.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to leave a comment and haven't been able to from my iPhone. Am finally having success on my laptop!??
Anyway, these sound like great reads.
I'm currently reading Karen Rose's "Death is not Enough" which is a riveting read.