As I mentioned before, during the past year or so I’ve had a difficult time concentrating while reading and I’ve discovered that I’m not alone. Imagine my delight when I tried again a few months ago and re-discovered the joy of escaping – even for a short while – with a good book.
Even though I write romance, I don’t read a lot of it. When I do, I invariably enjoy the stories, especially historical romances for some reason. Perhaps that’s because they often seem unrealistic, and when I pick one up, I want to be taken somewhere away from the stress we’re all undergoing these days. The one I recommend here has a real dose of realism which is why I’ve included it in this batch of favorites.
Here are a few of my recent choices:

The Cellist:

Daniel Silva never disappoints. I enjoy his Gabriel Allon character, who has evolved over time. For those who aren’t familiar with this series, Gabriel Allon is the chief of the Israeli intelligence service; there’s always an interesting plot, but more importantly, I invariably learn something. The books are meticulously researched and this one is au courant, even up to the recent American election. Highly recommended. THE CELLIST

Win:

Harlan Coben is one of my go-to authors. We were first introduced to Win as Myron Bolitar’s sidekick but in this story, Win is the protagonist. I always liked Win before but now I’m not so sure. Told with Coben’s usual skill, it’s not only a compelling whodunit, but it takes us inside the mind of Win… and that can be a dark place. Which is why I’m including this one. Does every hero need to be handsome, perfect and live a squeaky clean life? I’m not sure. You can decide for yourself. Win is the start of a series and I have no doubt I’ll try at least one more. WIN

The Heiress:

Now here’s a historical romance with a twist. It offers a peek into the life of a woman who has been kept compliant thanks to being given laudanum all of her life. The concept was refreshingly different, and of course I enjoyed her journey as she fights for her freedom and ultimately finds love. THE HEIRESS

Brighton:

My first novel by Michael Harvey and it won’t be my last. I found myself immersed in the story line and couldn’t wait to get back to it. It’s described as a thriller and that’s exactly what it is. Compelling. BRIGHTON

Big Lake Shootout:

Okay, okay, I’m a bit ahead of myself but I have to include the upcoming release in my friend Nick Russell’s Big Lake series because I know I’ll love it. Nick has created a community of people in this series who have become familiar to me and all of his many readers. Some characters we like, some we don’t, but there’s never a dull moment. Looking forward to this one; it’ll be released sometime in early August.
Update: Here’s a link to the book: BIG LAKE SHOOTOUT
ps: Nick and I are two of the many authors who use the services of the talented graphic artist ELIZABETH MACKEY for our book covers.