Miranda's March Musings!
Welcome, darlings! Have you been reading up a storm? If you missed Alyssa's marvellous blog last week about why romance novels are good for you (as if there is any doubt), go here. I'm so converted already.
I had recent surgery on a misbehaving hand and had to do a strict regime of 'rest and elevate' with said hand above my heart. This meant a lot of sitting down with my hand on pillows. As it was sore and I had utter brain fog from the anaesthetic, this was fine for a few days - until I could think again, and started to get a teensy bit bored. So I 'rested' my way through four seasons of the wonderful Midsomer Murders, seasons 9-12. Love that I've got heaps more seasons to go.
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| Picture credit: amazon.com |
I also read, read, read, and discovered some fabulous Aussie authors/books completely new to me, which I'm totally sharing with you.
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| Picture credit: amazon.com |
A great find is Jacquie Underdown's Bittersweet, first book in a new series about three brothers who own a vineyard. I cannot tell a lie, I won this book in an online chat (yay, thanks Jacquie!), so I plunged in with no preconceptions...and was still sitting in my chair (resting and elevating) a few hours later, sort of sobbing and gasping and thinking what absolute gold this book is. Failed chef Amy takes over her friend Rachel's cupcake shop, and get reacquainted with Rachel's brother-in-law Tom. 'Reacquainted' is code for: wow, these two are explosive together! Bittersweet is very raw and real. An unthinkable tragedy happens, and there has to be an implosion before things can ease. But along the way...Amy and Tom, magical Cupid cupcakes, wine... Brilliant.
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| Picture credit: amazon.com |
I had the enormous pleasure of sitting next to Maddison Michaels at a recent ARRA High Tea, and got all enthusiastic hearing about her debut Victorian romance, The Devilish Duke. What a knockout first book, Maddison, congratulations! I adored Lady Sophie Wolcott, and how she had that devilish Devlin running in circles around her while she completely resisted to his charms. Loved the cameo with Queen Victoria, I was very amused, and also the suspense-y parts with a killer on the loose. Look for the scene where the Sophie's brother battles for her honour with the duke. Heh, another amusing part. Looking forward to the next book already.
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| Picture credit: amazon.com |
Last but not least is The Wife's Tale by Christine Wells. It's a true crime I haven't read Christine's books before (oh so sorry), but I now intend to hoover up her others asap; also more of the wonderful historicals she writes as Christina Brooke. Thankfully I've read and loved some of the latter! The Wife's Tale goes between Queensland, Australia, and the Isle of Wight. Modern day lawyer Liz is sent by her boss to the Isle, to investigate an historical 18th century 'situation' pertaining to a beautiful property there called Seagrove. He wants her to pursue its sale for him as he may well have a claim on it, but, well, it's complicated - and the modern day (rather dishy) Lord Nash wants to sell under no circumstances. There's lots of intrigue, drama (understatement) - including a scandalous court case, and huge emotion, plus a nod to how awfully women were treated in past days. Just. Stunning.
Love from Miranda. xxx
Love to Love:
New category romance coming out from fave authors, like Michelle Douglas, and Kelly Hunter.
Love to Laugh:
I never guess the villain in Midsomer Murders. Sigh...
Love to Learn:
Discovering new authors is Just! So! Exciting! to me.
Wonderful to have Bittersweet included on the Breathless In the Bush blog, Miranda,and among such wonderful company too. Though I have been published for five years now, I'm finding that my recent books are appealing more to a wider readership. Bittersweet included. Thanks for your kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed the read.
ReplyDeleteJacquie, absolutely delighted you stopped by! I'm so glad your books are finding a wider readership, how wonderful. I can thoroughly recommend Bittersweet (obviously) and am looking forward to the next in the series. Read it, folks! And enjoy.
DeleteHi Miranda
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous list I too loved Bittersweet and The Wife's Tale and I have The Devilish Duke calling to me and can't wait to read it.
I discovered another Aussie author a couple of weeks ago Michelle Montebello her debut Interwoven was released last October and it is a story with romantic elements and the first in a series and I am looking forward to the next instalment which woohoo has released this is the story of Belle Hamilton and her journey through love loss and coping some beautiful settings Italy London Sydney. So many good books never enough time to catch up :)
I hope your hand is improving
have Fun
Helen
Wow, Helen, that Interwoven sounds like a knockout. Don't you just love finding the new reads?! I don't mind books with 'romantic elements', mix and match them with other romances for a bit of variety - always such a great reading adventure. And I love it when other locations are involved, like...Italy, London... Fantastic. Thanks for the heads up! And enjoy The Devilish Duke (I'm sure you will).
DeleteWhat a wonderful blog post, Miranda! And I'm thrilled to be in such amazing company as Christine Wells and Jacquie Underdown. Many thanks for your kind words, and I've added the other reads onto my tbr list, and can't wait for your next recommendations!
ReplyDeleteHi Maddison, so glad you could pop by, lovely to have you here on BITB blog. A good book is a good book, whether it's the first, the tenth, or the hundredth, and I certainly enjoyed your book. Loved it, in fact. All three books on this post were terrific reads - and sort of a get-well pill for me, too, languishing around with my hand in the air. Nothing better than a good romance to cure me. Keep writing, Maddison, I can't wait to see what you produce next. (Any hints here about what's forthcoming? ... ???)
DeleteThank you for this post, Miranda. More stories for the ever-increasing TBR pile!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that such a delight, Alyssa? You wouldn't want your TBR pile to run out now, would you? Three good ones here for you.
DeleteI've heard so many good things about Bittersweet! I'm obviously going to have to add it to the list. :-) I've done so little reading lately other than the thesis (sob), but it's comforting to know I have fab books waiting in the wings.
ReplyDeleteAnd I hope the hand is healing, Miranda!
The only trouble with studying, Michelle, is it does cut down on recreational reading! Still, hold these titles in your heart, you'll get there... Loved your recent 'A Baby in His In-Tray', what an absolute delight to read! I thought the H&H were so nice, such a great duo, even though they both had whopper conflict. A joy to enjoy, thankyou.
DeleteAw, thank you, Miranda. Chuffed you enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun to write (though I bet you could tell that).
DeleteAll three of these look like auto buys to me. Oh my poor credit card! ;-)
ReplyDeleteHa ha, Cassandra, my job on earth is done, selling books... :) But seriously, I can't think of a nicer thing than encouraging other people to read romance.
DeleteHi Miranda! Another fabulous group of selections from our talented Aussie authors. A 'new to me' author I've enjoyed recently is Beck Nicholas. Her YA romance 'The Last Days of Us' was a really emotional read.
ReplyDeleteI just love getting your recommendations, Marilyn. Not only do I entice people to read other books, I get sidetracked with suggestions as well. Awesome! Thanks!
DeleteLooks like I have to add to my the pile, Miranda.
ReplyDeleteOver the years, dear friend, you have encouraged me to read so many authors I have subsequently fallen in love with! Allow me to encourage you. Mwah.
DeleteThanks Miranda. It's great to have the chance to explore books by three new authors.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it just? Although I confess I have read Christine Wells as Christine Brooke, and she is just fabulous under that historical banner. Still, her style is just a bit different as Christine Wells with the double time line, and so it's like discovering a new author - something I'm always in favour of!
ReplyDeleteSorry, Sharon, that second name should have read as ChristinA Brooke. Default strikes again...
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