22 February 2007

Some recommended reading

Just thought I'd share a bit about some outstanding novels I've read lately...

One firmly falls within the bounds of this blog group: SON OF PERDITION by Louise Gouge. Though part of a series, it stands alone fairly well. Gouge takes Captain Ahab of MOBY DICK fame and gives him a family, including the title character, Timothy, whom the readers see fighting for love as well as the chance to prove that the "sins of the fathers" truly are not visited upon the sons in his case, all framed within the tumultuous period of the American Civil War.

One is definitely unusual in its construction, though it's "historical" only in the sense that the heroine must grapple with the years-past loss of her beloved first husband before she can learn to move forward with the present love of her life: VIOLETTE BETWEEN by Alison Strobel. Without giving away any spoilers, let me caution potential readers that the chronology may be a bit difficult to follow at first -- I have to admit I am not a fan of nonlinear storytelling -- but in this case the emotional payoff for sticking with the story is outstanding.

And, finally, this one is a contemporary novel -- I'd call it far more action-adventure or possibly miliatry thriller than anything else, in fact the "romance" aspect seems tacked-in as an afterthought -- but it is definitely an exciting read, and interesting in its Middle Eastern setting: ALLAH'S FIRE by Gayle Roper and Chuck Holton.

What recommendations can you offer?