What more does a girl need than a pile of books and a bowl of chocolate? Let’s talk about what we’ve been reading and feeding our inner chocoholics.

What makes you choose to read a book?

I’ve read more articles than I care to count on all the elements that go into a reader choosing a book. The cover has to catch the reader’s face. The title has to have punch. The sales copy has to grab the reader’s attention. The ‘look inside’ has to hold them hostage.

Heaven’s that sounds like a street fight, not a book—right?

Then again, there are some good points there. Titles can draw me in for another look, or they can beg for a swipe right (or it is left, I really don’t do dating sites, although a book dating site could be interesting…) I will take a second glance at something interesting or unique. Anything that sounds like the author really couldn’t decide on a title and just decided to tell the plot instead I’ll usually pass on.

And then there’s the cover. Some will definitely make me pause for another look. The Paper Magician (which I talked about in March) was definitely that sort of cover. Then there are others that stick out like a sore them screaming ‘Please run, don’t read me what ever you do!’ I usually oblige and swipe left. (just looked it up! Thanks google.) That leaves a lot of books in that middle zone that says ‘Might be worth reading, but then again, you just never know.’

That’s where the first line of the description needs to get my attention. I’m a sucker for a unique main character or even better, one with an interesting voice. At this point, I’ve given a book listing a whole five to ten seconds of my time. Now, I want to know what’s in it for me. A priest giving a dragon who was hit by a car last rites, and you’ve got me for sure. That’s an immediate yes for me. (Temptation of Dragons is the book by the way and I’ll be talking about it in future months. Hint—it’s a home run for me!) Another sixteen-year-old orphan with recently discovered superpowers, that’s going to be a much more difficult sell for me. Maybe if she’s a refugee from another planet, hiding on earth and helping other refugees (Adamant, is this book and I’ll be talking about that one in the future, another fun one.) A lot of books get a left swiped at this point.

If the sales copy doesn’t grab me, then a book has got to come with a pretty heavy-hitting recommendation from someone who knows my tastes well enough to be trusted with such a huge responsibility as directing my reading time. Only a very few people have recommendation rights to my reading! LOL

This month I have three books to share with you, each one with a different reason for winding up on my TBR pile. And all of them totally worthwhile!

Just so you know, links below are Amazon associate links, so if you buy anything through them, I will get a couple of pennies from that.

The Vacuum of Space (Space Janitor Book 1)

It’s a dirty galaxy and someone has to clean it.
Avoiding the wealthy inhabitants on the upper levels of Station Kelly Kornienko is bot-programmer Triana’s number one rule. Well, number two, right after “eat all the chocolate.”

This was one of the books whose title caught me. Actually it was the series title, not the book title. Space Janitor? Ok that’s rather different and worth a second look. Then the hook/description sealed the deal. An ‘eat all the chocolate’ kind of gal was definitely a character I’d like to get to know better.

And I did. This was a light, humorous read, with characters who were surprisingly more complex than expected. A little light romance on the side didn’t hurt, but I wouldn’t call this one a romance, as the main plot was more a mystery.

With fun, quirky world building and characters who proved more than expected at first glance, I’d definitely recommend this one as a light, fun summer read.

Throwing Shade

Middle-aged. Divorced. Hormonally imbalanced. Then she got magic. Underestimate her. That’ll be fun.

This was one of the books that sold me on the character voice. The description of the main character had me immediately and Miriam didn’t disappoint. She was everything the sales copy promised. The right mix of snark, sass, and grit for a contemporary heroine I want to spend time with.

An added bonus in this urban fantasy was the introduction of Jewish folklore creatures into the mix. I really enjoyed the addition of golems and shades into the mix of the more standard urban fantasy fare of werewolves and vampires.

Light, fast paced and different, with a touch of romance that didn’t overtake the urban fantasy plot. Another good, light summer read.

Quarter Share

I hate to say it but neither the cover, nor the sales copy really called to me on this one. I would have overlooked it entirely had not my son been after me to read this series. I mean he was like a dog with a bone, pushing this series on me. I couldn’t get away from it. Nag, nag, nag.

 Finally, he wore me down.

 I’m glad he did. I enjoyed the story of Ishmael Horatio Wong enough to continue with the series and start the subsequent series. Nathan Lowell has a very particular style that is unique and different in the world of Space Opera. Instead of focusing on rapid pace and battle scenes, his work is more slice of life. I use that description with caution though because it often implies a wandering plotless mess that doesn’t really tell and actual story. That is not the case here at all.  

 Lowell does a masterful job telling a slice of life sort of story with a definite plot. The story does not meander as we walk through a unique setting and lifestyle with our characters. The underlying story is perfectly paced and set up to see the character growth without the need for space battles or alien uprisings. Though I was literally readying five books at the same time as this one, I kept looking forward to my nightly chapters as a calming breath of fresh air, a time to sit with nurturing friends and hear about their day. These are really unique books that fill a special place in my ‘book friends’ list.

What are you reading now and why did you choose that book? Tell me in the comments.

How about some free book promotions to stock up your shelves?

Click the images to see the books.