Monday Morning Visits

It's Monday morning again. I hope your weekend was a good one and that you're not too tired and grouchy this morning. I'm in a good mood because in my most recent trolling I had the startlingly happy experience of coming across several reviews of books I regularly sing the praises of by a handful of bloggers I love. By the time I finished reading them, I had a grin of pure delight on my face and just had to share the links with you. Go read their lovely reviews and say hi. 


For the last little while, Kristen over at Fantasy Cafe has been the patient recipient of a little not-so-gentle nudging from Ana of The Book Smugglers and myself to read Megan Whalen Turner's Queen's Thief series. She read (and enjoyed) The Thief not long ago and yesterday's Leaning Pile of Books post revealed she recently devoured The Queen of Attolia as well. In her little teaser, she had the following to say:

I've already finished this one since I was unable to stop reading it today until I got to the end. The Thief was good, but this one was something special and now holds the spot of favorite book I've read so far this year.

That sound you just heard was me sighing blissfully. I <3 you, Kristen.


My friend and avid reader Chachic over at Chachic's Book Nook just posted her review of Sharon Shinn's Archangel. I had no idea she'd picked it up and I'm so happy to discover she liked it. Chachic has this to say:

I love that even though they’re meant for each other by the god’s mandate, they still have to work for it. It’s definitely not love at first sight and they keep rubbing each other the wrong way. Love-hate relationships for the win! ♥

What can I say but that I wholeheartedly agree. Any other good angel books to recommend? She's asking for your input.


Brenda over at Brenda Loves Books (I just love her header and the quote running along the bottom of it) has been working her way through one of my most beloved series--Tamora Pierce's Alanna books--the Song of the Lioness quartet. Yesterday she posted her review of the fourth and final book Lioness Rampant. She says:

I also just adore the characters in this series.  Alanna grew so much, and I admit, I cried at the ending.

You are not alone, Brenda. I've lost count of how many times I've read these books, but I cry at the ending every time. And, uh, at a few other key moments as well. I'm only human! I happen to know of a few other bloggers who are in the process of reading this series as well and it makes me incredibly excited to know it's still reaching new readers after all these years. 


Lastly, I wanted to point you to Nicole over at Linus' Blanket who recently hosted the Outside the Zone edition of the always excellent Bookworms Carnival. This particular edition focused on books outside your comfort zone and it's worth heading over to check out these bloggers' experiences with books they would not normally have picked up but ended up loving. 


That's it for me for now. Happy reading!