Winter
is definitely here. The clocks have gone
back, the evenings are closing in so early – and there are even
reports this weekend of snow
piling up in several places in the UK. I know it’s nothing like the appalling
weather that has savaged New York and other
places recently - but it’s a real sign that
the seasons are changing. (My thoughts go
out to everyone affected by the terrible storm ‘Sandy’. I’ve watched the news
reports with shock and deep concern and I hope that the efforts to rebuild and repair make things so much easier soon. To anyone who lost loved ones or were injured
in those appalling days, my deepest sympathies to you all. )
But here
the cold weather is really rather a welcome event. I have just had my latest
book accepted after working on revisions, and now I can say that A Throne For
The Taking is scheduled for release in June 2013. So I’ve ‘rewarded’ myself with a bit of
time off and a long, indulgent week of catching
up on the reading I neglected while I had to concentrate on those
revisions. And the cold weather hasn’t worried
me as I’ve curled up indoors – beside the fire, with a cat on my lap most days with
my Kindle, and a few ‘real’ print books, and
escaped into some imaginary
worlds that other authors have created. It could rain (it’s certainly done
that!) hail, sleet – luckily there hasn’t
actually been any snow - and I wouldn’t
care. I was perfectly happy.
What have I been reading? Well, one thing was that I made myself a promise that I would try and work my way through my TBR pile – alternating romance with other books . I didn’t have to think about the next book of my own, not for this week – and I didn’t have to worry that very different reads would affect my romance style – so I could grab hold of whatever I wanted and go for it – here’s the result
Romances:
Doukakis’s
Apprentice by Sarah Morgan – I’ve been meaning to read this since before it was nominated - and then won – the RITA this year. Now I’ve
finished it – well, I’m not surprised it won!
The
Darkest of Secrets and The Husband She Never Knew by Kate Hewitt – two linked
books about the Tannous brothers
Others:
One Breath
Away by Heather Gudenkauf – a tense story centring round the day when an armed man
goes into the local school. Told from many different viewpoints. Gripping
Pushing
the Limits – Katie McGarry. Before I
started to write full time, I was a children’s librarian and I had a special interest in Young Adult
books. I would have bought this for the
library like a shot and I really enjoyed
reading it for myself. Some of the best fiction is being written in YA novels these days and this is a great example.
The Lies
We Told by Diane Chamberlain – I’ve really enjoyed the novels by Diane
Chamberlain that I’ve read – again, like One Breath Away, they’re written from multiple
viewpoints. This one wasn’t one of my
favourites, but I still have another couple of her titles on my TBR list and I’m looking forward to those.
While My
Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky. This one was a present from my son for my birthday
and I’ve only just got round to reading
it. This was a compelling and emotional
book that sometimes dealing with some
difficult issues and some complicated family relationships. But it was none the
less enjoyable for all that.
And
finally – just for pure indulgence – the reissues of some of the 90s Modern ‘Vintage’
titles by Mills & Boon (Treasury in Harlequin) meant that I could indulge
myself and go back and reread some of my ‘oldie’ favourites – Gold Ring of
Betrayal and Passionate Scandal by Michelle Reid . The Second Mrs Adams by Sandra Marton. And – OK, I’ll
admit it, a little touch of nostalgia made me go back and reread a couple of my
own ‘Vintage’ titles - The Groom’s
Revenge. Hers For a Night and The Unexpected Child. It’s been so long since I read those that it’s
almost like trying a new author!
So that’s
what I’ve been enjoying this past week.
It’s been a real indulgence and a lot of fun. And escaping into these
other story-tellers’ world has been a joy, and an inspiration – filling up the ‘well’
of my imagination so that I’m ready to look at my own next story with more
inspiration and interest than before. And the great thing is that now with my TBR
pile nicely reduced, I can indulge myself even further by finding some new titles to add to it!
What about you? Have you read any of these? Did you enjoy them? Or what books have you tried and enjoyed lately ? What’s on your TBR list? What would you recommend I should add to mine?
Kate's really pleased to know that five of her earlier
titles have been republished as eBooks
in the new Mills & Boon Vintage
(90s) collection. She’s not too
sure about being described as ‘Vintage’.
But they’re also republished in the Harlequin Treasury and she can cope with
being a treasure!
You can find out more
about Kate Walker, her books and her latest news over on her web site and her
blog.
