Tuesday, July 17, 2012

What we're all reading at the beach

Hi all! I'm Erica Hayes, a new poster on Romancing the Genres, and I'm so excited to be here! Thanks to everyone for welcoming me!

First, a little about moi. I'm an Aussie, but currently I live in the north of England, enjoying some not-so-fab British weather. I write paranormal and urban fantasy romance. I'm working through traditional publishers at the moment, but maybe soon I'll branch out into DIY too! I have a series called the Shadowfae Chronicles, featuring wild fairies and vampires and all manner of sexy beasties. And I have a new romance series called the Seven Signs starting in October, with hot fallen angels (yum!) and a very biblical Apocalypse... but you'll hear more about that soon.

So. Hot summer reads, huh? Gotta say, summer in Northumberland isn't exactly hot… but I did just spend a week on vacation in sunny Majorca. Why, yes, I did. Thanks for admiring my suntan.

Mmm, sunshine... Majorcan style!

We stayed in Cala D'Or, a gorgeous, relaxing town on the east coast of the island. Not the party-nightclub-frenzy part. I'm too old for that kind of nonsense… But all that lolling about in the sun was fantastic for beachside (or poolside!) reading. Everyone was doing it. Naturally, I spied on everyone to see what they were reading! Men mostly read the newspaper, or a thriller. I saw one guy reading an old Ian Fleming. Women's choices were a bit more diverse.

The most common paperback I sighted? Yep, you got it. 50 SHADES OF GREY. Second most popular was THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO or its sequels, followed by other thrillers or chick-lit… I'm sorry, did I say 'chick-lit'? Wash my mouth out. I mean 'humorous women's fiction'. Nothing to see here. Move along.

Still, blockbusters were predominant. Exactly the kind of thing that bookstores promote as 'hot summer reads', with the huge print run and the in-window advertising. Also the big-deal literary books. I saw one person reading THE NIGHT CIRCUS, and another with WOLF HALL. Maybe everyone did their book-shopping at the airport?

Sadly, apart from 50 SHADES, I didn't see a single romance book, at least not in paperback. No Mills & Boon. No paranormals. But, about half the readers I saw were using e-readers, so who knows what sweet creamy delights they were getting stuck into? My money's on 50 SHADES...

Me? Well, I packed a couple of paperbacks and stocked up my trusty Sony before I left (sadly, no Kindle for me yet) and I got through five or six books by the pool. What a horrible way to spend a holiday. Oh, the pain! Or, as my husband likes to say, 'wow, this diamond up my butt really hurts!'

Here's a few of my favourite ones in fantasy and paranormal:

The Midnight Justice mini-series. Sexy superheroes! Love these 2 novellas.
And Tarnished by Karina Cooper. Cool steampunk-y fantasy!





So what's the last book you read? Was it a 'hot summer read', according to the bookstores? Or do you just push on with your TBR pile, regardless of the season?

5 comments:

Judith Ashley said...

First: Welcome, Erica! We're glad you've joined us.

Second: Thanks for clarifying you're an Aussie who currently lives in England. I was a bit confused about that.

Third: I'm currently reading Delilah Marvelle's "Forever and A Day"; next is Nora Robert's "The Last Boyfriend", and then I succumbed to the Buy 2 get 1 Free and added to my TBR pile Julia Quinn's "A Night Like This"; Elizabeth Boyle's "Along Came A Duke"; and Linda Lael Miller's "Big Sky Country". When I travel later this month, I'll use my Kobo which has Paty Jager's Petticoat series and a couple of Linda Lael Miller's books along with a few more historicals. Oh yes, I also have Janet Evanovich's "Explosive Eighteen" to read after Nora.

I pretty much continue with my TBR pile and even though I tell myself I need to read what I have before I get more...it just doesn't work that way. Someone I like to read or a writer friend puts a book out there and what's a poor girl suppose to do?

Erica Hayes said...

I know! I have enough trouble getting through my TBR without those pesky favourite authors putting out more books...

Diana McCollum said...

Welcome to the Generistas! I'm working on my tbr pile. I just finished Victoria Alexander's "My Wicked Little Lies". Now reading Amanda Quick "Perfect Poison".

Bron said...

Hi Erica

I hope it's a great summer for you in the UK.

Interesting about holiday reads and e-Readers. I love mine and won't buy a book unless I can get it on my Kindle now. Some authors are missing out as their publishers have made it unavailable on Kindle in New Zealand. There are so many great books out there i simply buy something else.
When are you next downunder?

Sarah Raplee said...

Hi Erica! I'm so glad you joined us. Welcome!

My summer reading hasn't included the book store blockbusters. I'm continuing to read from my TBR pile, mostly. 'Caught in the Middle' by Nancy Brophy, 'In Her Sights' by Robin Perini, 'Logger in Petticoats' by Paty jager, and a couple of Harlequin category books.I'm saving the second book in a YA Steampunk series called The Infernal Devices. The book's title is 'Clockwork Prince' (sequel to the amazing 'Clockwork Angel') I'll use it to reward myself for reaching a big writing goal. Once I pick it up, I KNOW I won't be able to put it down!