24, 25, 26

...wow it's been almost a month since I've had anything to say on this blog. Luckily, that doesn't mean I haven't been reading. Still - not as much reading has been happening as I would have liked.

I have had the serious misfortune of reading two of the worst books ever in my entire life back to back. This is what comes from forgetting to bring books with me to the beach and having to comb the shelves of the gift shops for something to read (that and accidentally buying a book I've already read because I didn't take the time to read the back of the cover...) If I had spent a little more time looking this book over, I would have realised that she had comments from all sorts of paranormal societies littered through the first few pages. As it is, I thought it would be a conspiracy along the lines of Crichton or Ludlum. Not so. Plus, again something I didn't notice, it's a romance. *barf* Still, I needed something to do while my family ignored me at the beach, this was it.

Thankfully, I met for coffee with my good friends a few weeks ago and Jane lent me so really good books.

Now maybe just maybe I loved this book so much because I read two really bad books before it. But I don't think so. De Los Santos is an amazing story teller. Even better than that, she can craft characters. I drove my poor hubby crazy reading pages of this book to him. But each of her characters are real people I've met in my life. And I couldn't believe how well she captured their essences. Like Piper in the beginning of the book? I know so many women like her. I am probably the way I am as some sort of rebellion against women like her. Belong to Me is one of my very favorite books ever. I strongly urge you to rush out right now and get your own copy. I can't lend you mine. It's Jane's.

For some reason (maybe the pretty jackets?) I thought Between, Georgia was also by de Los Santos. Not so. As evidenced by the name Joshilyn Jackson on the cover. Duh. I was hopeful that I would love this book just as much, but not sure it would really happen. Very pleasantly surprised.

This story is, in some ways, grittier than the other. I mean, I wouldn't exactly call Belong to Me a Hallmark story despite the Hollywood Ending but, Between, Georgia takes place in some of the, well, less tidy areas of Georgia. The characters are rougher. But no less real. And maybe that's why the story felt uncomfortable sometimes. Just like some of those small towns in the southern states. They're quaint in their own own poor, run down way. But you're not really sure if it's safe to stay too long.

That feeling doesn't last for long. Once again the story and the characters draw you in and once you're in you can't stop. Another amazing read which leaves me very, very eager to start the third book Jane lent me (plus, I want to return them to her before we leave for our summer vacation!)