You know how sometimes other romance readers say things like "Seriously! You've got to read Such-and-Such author!" and you nod and say you totally will, and then, you just...don't?Yeah, that was me with Josh Lanyon. I knew from multiple sources that Josh was the bomb. LBea is the head cheerleader for Josh. And Tracy loves him. And so does Renee. Ditto the Red-Headed Book-Pimp. But, I dunno. I just, didn't read him. Until this week.
You see, I have a shiny new eReader and have been casting around for some books to read. And I hit upon the first two Adrien English mysteries. So while this is not a review, I'll talk a bit about what I loved about both books.
Adrien's Voice: We know Adrien is handsome because he seriously has no problem attracting men. He's smart, and snotty and sarcastic. But it's the smart that makes him compelling to me. He makes references obscure literary texts, and adores mysteries, and is fast enough to quip on his feet. All of this makes him tremendously likeable. I will say that his voice has a definite feminine feel to me. Not that he's girly, but he's pretty self-aware for a guy. On top of that, he's an amateur sleuth. Now, if he were a real person, I'd imagine he'd take issue with my saying that. But Adrien is a magnet for trouble and then feels very strongly that he needs to solve every mystery that comes his way. That leads to tension. Delicous tension between Adrien and...Jake.
Jake Riordan: I already know, having only read two books that Jake is going to alternate between pissing me off utterly, and completely delighting me. He's a total guy-guy. And seriously closeted. Going so far as to say he's going to marry and woman and have kids with her (poor woman, whoever she is). And yet, he frequents gay leather clubs, and is the king of hot/cold signals. He's strapping and protective, and foul tempered, and calls Adrien "Baby" which makes me melt a little. Jake is, in my opinion, the ideal romance hero. Except that his dickhead factor might be a bit high. LBea tells me that I should prepare to be disappointed in Jake. And I'm sure she's right. I'm sure at some point I'll be sighing "Dammit, Jake!" But for now, I dig him.
Anyway, my point is that I should have listened to the many, many readers in my life who told me "You gotta read Josh!" now that I have, I'll never doubt again!
What author have you tried after multiple recommendations and been pleasantly surprised? Do you read Josh Lanyon? If so, what series of his is your favorite?
11 comments:
You need to read Mexican Heat by Josh. Not an Adrian English mystery but a great undercover cop mystery where the cop falls for a possible drug lord employee. The tequila love making scene is all types of hot.
I am not a big fan of Jake at the moment. Must read books 3-5 next!
Yes, bow down to my awesome pimping ways.
*clapping hands* I'm so happy that you loved the books! They are fantastic.
I absolutely love the descriptions you've given to Adrien and Jake as they are just perfect. Yes, Jake is delightful at times and other times you want to knock him out for being such an ass. But I can't help but love him and Adrien so much! (and I melt when Jake calls Adrien "baby" as well, how can you not?)
My recent nudge from fellow readers was Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series. FINALLY read it and loved it.
Oh, I love it when someone else discovers a book/author/series that I love.
Man, it gets me too, when Jake calls Adrien "baby". The endearment seems to come from him unconsciously, which given how closeted and controlled he is just speaks volumes. Yes, his dickhead factor will seriously piss you off, but it just makes the pay off at the end that much more sweet. He gets the best line in the series in The Dark Tide which will make it all worth it!
I'm with KB about Mexican Heat.
Also, my current obsession/favorite series, PsyCop by Jordan Castillo Price. Vic and Jacob are great, and there's some wonderful paranormal suspense, too.
I'm in the same place you were - I know I need to read Josh but I just haven't done it yet....I know I'm going to love it but I've got to be "in the mood" or something, IDK.
Patti - I'll say that I loved the first two books. I bought the last three on Fictionwise yesterday and will be diving in this weekend. I think you'll really enjoy them!
Josh Lanyon is an author I've heard great things about. I really want to read his Adrian English series. I'm just going to have to block out some time and do it.
Before my tired, baggy, old eyes when on ebook haitus, I read the first two Adrian English books. Yeah, they be good. And I completely agree with every single thing you said about the boys.
LBea is such a pimp I'm pretty sure she wears a long yellow trench coat, platform shit-kickers, diamond crusted sunglasses, and a purple fedora with a red feather when she's blogging. She (along with her co-pimp, TeddyPig, who wouldn't be caught dead in anything but black leather pimp threads) talked so much about J.L. Langley's My Fair Captain that I seriously thought I had read it. A search through my ebook folders confirmed that I hadn't and I won a copy from one of Ms. LBeaPimp's contests. I then went on to buy The Englor Affair. LOVELOVELOVED them both. Of course, again, this was before my eHaitus.
I resisted Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville series for years. I was absolutley SURE it was paranormal chick-lit and not my cuppa AT ALL. Then a friend HOUNDED me to try one. Not only was it not chick-lit, but it was refreshingly different from 99.9% of the other urban fantasies out there. Now I'm a complete Kitty Norville addict.
Kresley Cole was like that for me. I let the awful covers put me off for way too long.
"baby" sigh...I heart Jake and Adrien. Just wonderful characters. There is so much about Adrien that appeals to me - his sense of humor, his quirks...
Along the same line as Adrien, I just started the PsyCop series by Jordan Castillo Price and they are excellent!!
I read the first two Adrien English books last month, when my multi-purpose reader put in an appearance. And I loved them! I have the next 3 to look forward too, but just need the OK from the physiotherapist that holding the iPhone isn't going to upset my RSI!
...calls Adrien "Baby" which makes me melt a little.
Me too!
As for a series I have been told to read but haven't - Jordan Castillo Price's PsyCop (that
s for after Adrien :) and Lynn Flewelling's Nightrunner (fantasy) series (yes, Renee, I was listening :) which I've ordered from the library!
I just read The Dickens With Love and Fatal Shadows by Josh Lanyon. He's a great author! I'm so glad I tried him.
I also just finished Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning--I can't believe I waited as long as I did to start that series.
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