This page is dedicated to great reading.

I adore reading. There is nothing better than a day spent with your favourite author (dishes, laundry and cleaning be damned!). It would be especially grand if I could find someone to feed me while I spent a day reading, but I think I would need to check in to a hotel with room service in order see that dream become reality!

You should be aware that I will read lots of different things, from fantasy to contemporary thrillers, romances to non-fiction political commentary. I wish my reading habits were more thematic, but, like my blog, with me you get a cornucopia of good things.

So without further ramblings, here is a list of my favourite – and in some cases, not so favourite – books and other reads:

1. The Mary Russell series by Laurie R Kink. This series begins with “The Bee Keeper’s Apprentice” and is one of my favourite series of all time. Now, the premise my seem a bit far fetched: beginning in 1915, young Mary is recently orphaned and had left California and returned to her mother’s farm on the Sussex Downs in south England. One day while out walking the Downs in order to escape her horrible aunt, Mary stumbles (literally) over a disreputable looking older gentleman who is sat observing…bees. This gentleman is none other than the legendary Sherlock Holmes who has retired from Baker Street and is now a beekeeper (although he does take the occasional assignment from New Scotland Yard and his brother, Mycroft). So begins the most amazing adventures of Mary Russell who becomes the one and only apprentice to the legendary sleuth. If you like strong heroines who can throw daggers, analyze the chemical make up of dirt, discuss theology (in Hebrew), and still find time to shop for a Saturday to Monday at the Duke’s country estate, then you will find much to like in Mary Russell. King’s novels are pacey, romantic, and intelligent. This is one author whose books I will always buy without hesitation.

2. Women of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong. Outstanding paranormal series which begins with the adventures of the world’s only female werewolf, Elena Michaels. This series features all the usual suspects: the aforementioned werewolves, witches, wizards, demons, necromancers, kick-ass angels, and the ocasional vampire. There is romance, intrigue, thrills, spills (bloody or otherwise), and a whole lot of supernatural goings on. Armstrong has worked with Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon, so that gives you some idea of how her mind works. She also has two series for young adult readers which are also worth checking out. Again, if I see a book by this author, I buy it. End of.

3. Into the Wilderness series by Sara Donati – Lord, how I love these books! I must re-read the series alt least once a year. This is what I call historical romance. The series begins in 1792 in upstate New York where 29 year old Elizabeth Middleton arrives from England to open a school. She soon meets Nathanial Bonner, son of Hawkeye (yes, THAT Hawkeye), and soon the romance and adventures begin. If you like complex story lines, strong women characters (ain’t nobody messin with Curiosity Freeman), and plenty of pace, you will enjoy these novels. Well worth a look.

More to come….