Writing Wednesday: What's your Reading #Obsession ?

Happy New Year to All!

After a prolonged holiday break, which included many many guests, dinners, parties, events and the inevitable laundry that follows, I'm back online and trying to get back into the writing groove. 

I'm a firm believer that in order to be a better writer, you need to be an avid reader. Authors need to stay abreast of what's popular in their own genre, as well as reading outside their niche. It makes your own writing flow better if you read widely, and can see and feel both the perfect turns of phrase that others craft, as well as the clunky failures of paragraphs and dialogue interludes that just don't work.

Do you know what I mean?

You can kind of tell when authors are not avid readers, or you know, readers. Or if they "used to read" and their own style is more reminiscent of Charles Dickens than Charlaine Harris. What works for Jane Austen does not necessarily work for modern romance writers.

I'm generally a fast reader and early riser, so I do a lot of my reading in the mornings when I'm between book projects, or at night with wine after my day job of technical writing wipes my brain into a numbed state. I read to soothe my need for fiction and escape, and refill the well of my own writing creativity and spark.

However.

Sometimes I get utterly obsessed with an author, and drop everything to read their new book, whether it's a new mass-market release by Julie James, or an ARC or beta by one of my favorite small press authors, like  J.C. McKenzie or Karilyn Bentley or Peggy Jaeger. Even if I'm writing at the time (okay, unless I'm on deadline) I Will. Drop. Everything.

Over the holiday break, I discovered a new Must-Read author like this, and I'm totally obsessed. Penny Reid. The first book of hers I read a while ago, and liked but didn't trigger obsession. Then I downloaded her "Truth or Beard" which was a free BookBub offering... and I reviewed here Monday... and promptly read through the entire series to date. Now I'm waiting semi-anxiously for the next release in the series which isn't until July. JULY!

So the discussion topic for today is, Do you Read? What do you Read? Do you - like me - get Obsessed?

Do you agree with my premise that Writers need to be avid Readers in order to master their craft?

And more importantly, who or what is your latest Reading Obsession?

Happy Writing - and Reading - to All!

Monday Book Review: Suddenly One Summer, by Julie James

Suddenly One Summer, by Julie James
Published 2015 by JOVE books, an imprint of Penguin

About the Book:

Divorce lawyer Victoria Slade has seen enough unhappy endings to swear off marriage forever. That doesn't mean she's opposed to casual dating—just not with her cocky new neighbor, who is as gorgeous and tempting as he is off-limits. But once she agrees to take on his sister's case, she's as determined to win as ever—even if that means teaming up with Ford....

Investigative journalist Ford Dixon is bent on finding the man who got his sister pregnant and left her high and dry. He's willing to partner with Victoria, despite the fact that the beautiful brunette gets under his skin like no other woman. He might not be looking to settle down, but there's no denying the scorching attraction between them. Still, the more time he spends with Victoria, the more he realizes that the one woman as skeptical about love as he is might be the only woman he could really fall for…

My Take:

I won this paperback in a contest over the winter, thrilled to have an autographed copy from one of my absolute favorite authors. I've loved everything she's previously written, and reread  a few of them multiple times.

This one... Was a little different, and didn't grab me the same way as her previous books. I chalked it up to a bad stretch of winter and put it aside to reread when the weather (and my mood) improved.

And I'm really glad I did. Turns out I really like this book after all. As in, Really liked it.

Victoria Slade is Chicago's foremost family law attorney, in other words, divorce attorney to the rich and famous. She's always in control of every situation... Until a home invasion leads to panic attacks and the immediate need to move. While her new condo is being renovated, she rents a condo next door to Ford Dixon, an investigative reporter with issues of his own.

Julie James is a master at writing sassy and sarcastic characters who hide their vulnerabilities behind quips and banter. The back and forth between her characters never fails to make me smile, and the ending left me with a big stupid grin on my face and the urge to tell my husband how much I love him. Yeah, that sappy. But in a totally good way.

Is it a feel-good beach read? Yes. Is it a satisfying romance with a strong female lead? Yes. Why didn't I like it the first time around? I have absolutely no idea. Honestly.

I totally recommend grabbing this for your beach bag, and a great summer read.
Grab a copy on Amazon.

Cephalopod Coffeehouse Book Club: JUST THE SEXIEST MAN ALIVE by Julie James

I read a lot of books at the beginning of the month (can you say procrastinate?) and was thrilled to find a post on Facebook that one of my favorite contemporary romance authors had a book on sale for $1.99...and I hadn't yet read it! As I type and schedule this post, the month is far from over, but I'm pretty sure this will still be my favorite book of the month. (and it should still be on sale if you want to check it out on AMAZON.)

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(Before I continue with my Coffee House Review, I just want to mention that MY NEW BOOK IS OUT AS OF YESTERDAY! I know we aren't here to plug our own books but wanted to jump up and down a little cuz it's so fresh! Now back to the Book Review!)

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I discovered Julie James a little over a year ago. My mom had one of her books on the coffee table, and since she'd already read it she sent it home with me. The next week I went to my local book store and bought two more Julie James paperbacks to read on vacation. I was hooked.

Her characters are smart and sexy. Intelligent and driven. And there's just enough legal drama and danger to draw me in. Her FBI series is my favorite, but this one was a pretty fun romp and I finished it in a day. So, fast-paced, fast reading, fun, smart, sexy... what more can you ask for in a contemporary romance?

Just the Sexiest Man Alive, by Julie James
Published by Berkley Sensation, October 2008


About the Book:

No woman could resist him—except the one he wanted most...

Cool, Calm, Collected...

Nothing fazes Taylor Donovan. In the courtroom she never lets the opposition see her sweat. In her personal life, she never lets any man rattle her—not even her cheating ex-fiancé. So when she's assigned to coach People's "Sexiest Man Alive" for his role in his next big legal thriller, she refuses to fall for the Hollywood heartthrob's charms. Even if he is the Jason Andrews.

Confident, Famous, Irresistible...

Jason Andrews is used to having women fall at his feet. When Taylor Donovan gives him the cold shoulder, he's thrown for a loop. She's unlike any other woman he's ever met: uninterested in the limelight, seemingly immune to his advances, and shockingly capable of saying no to him. She's the perfect challenge. And the more she rejects him, the more he begins to realize she may just be his perfect match

MY TAKE:

This is a fun, fast-paced romance between a smart, driven lawyer and the self-absorbed actor she must mentor for his upcoming movie role. Neither one expects the sparks that fly between them every time they're together. The chapters show us alternating points of view between Taylor and Jason, giving a kind of he said/she said quality, because their interpretations of each situation vary so wildly. Ms. James does a great job giving voice to the different characters, including a third POV from another actor trying to steal both Jason's limelight and Taylor's heart.

There's no big suspense or action, but more an internal angst between two emotionally damaged people who have a hard time believing that they might have a chance at real love. If you're looking for a fast read that will tug at your emotions, give Julie James a try. JUST THE SEXIEST MAN ALIVE was a fun read (and on sale), but my absolute favorite of her books is A LOT LIKE LOVE. She also has a new book coming out in May - IT HAPPENED ONE WEDDING - that I can't wait to check out!

Now, on to the rest of the Coffeehouse Bloghop! Have fun and visit some of these other cool sites: