B is for Books #AtoZChallenge

For me, ‘B’ can’t be anything else but books in this A to Z challenge.

Books are like air to me–I can’t live without them.

Here’s what I’m reading now:

• Tom Benson’s A Taste of Honey. It’s a vigilante story reminiscent of the movie Death Wish, but with a female lead. I’ve always enjoyed revenge stories, especially when it’s a woman kicking ass. It’s disturbing because of the subject matter, but Benson has an interesting style and a dry humour under it all. I’m just at the halfway point in the novel.
• Ian D. Moore’s Salby Damned. Yes, it’s a zombie story, and I was reluctant to pick it up. But Moore ties it into fracking, which gives it an interesting twist. I’m reading it slowly, warily, afraid it might get too gruesome. I’ve been told it’s not, but I’m squeamish. And yes, I recognize the irony, considering how much horror I read–and that I write it.
• Alan Annand’s Soma County. This is the third book in Annand’s New Age Noir series featuring Axel Crowe, who is not only a private investigator, but an astrologer. I’ve read all of Annand’s other novels, and always look forward to reading his next one. As always, it’s well written, well constructed (that’s the writer in me talking), but above all, enjoyable to read (from the reader in me). I love that Crowe uses astrology, palmistry, and other new age tools to solve the case. It adds another dimension to the story and another level of fascination to the investigation process.
• Stephen King’s Mr. Mercedes. I love reading King’s books no matter how long they are. Sometimes I wonder why a scene was included, but who cares? Even if it’s extraneous, it’s interesting. He always tells a good story. It’s another one I’m reading slowly. With King, you never know what horrible thing is going to happen next. If you enjoy high tension and slow dread, this’ll do it.

I’m heading to the library today to return a stack of books, some of which I needed to write my thesis on the after-effects of near-death experience and the rest novels by Nora Roberts/J. D. Robb.

I’m addicted to Nora. I read her books fast. I can’t put them down, even when the tension becomes unbearable. Nora is one of the few authors who has compelled me to break down and read the end prematurely to make sure it turns out okay. And that’s knowing she always writes an HEA ending. But there have been a couple of novels where I doubted, because it looked so hopeless, and I cracked and peeked.

I’m so ashamed.

I didn’t discover her until a year or so ago, and can’t get enough, especially her SF crime fiction with Eve and Roarke. I must have a Nora book on the go, and I’ve read everything of hers I could get my hands on, so I need more.

Thank God for libraries.

Obviously, I don’t have a monogamous relationship with books–not even serially monogamous. For me, reading is one big orgy.