This week has been a very satisfying reading week for me. Not only did I get to read a new author, but I got to read a couple of favorites as well.

On Wednesday I talked a bit about the book I read for class, Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings. Outside of urban fantasy I'm normally not a big fantasy reader, but after reading Pawn of Prophecy I think I should definitely work more fantasy subgenres into my reading schedule. Any and all suggestions of what titles I should start with are welcome. :-)

Reading Pawn of Prophecy and discussing fantasy with my class got me in the mood to read one of my favorite urban fantasies again: Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison. The first in the Rachel Morgan series, I can't say enough about how much I love this book and author. As I told my class on Wednesday, if I had the power to make ever single person on this planet read just one book, this would be the one. Forget Superman or Wonder Woman. I want Oprah's powers.

Anyway... Dead Witch Walking is set in the Hollows -- the dark, wild side of Cincinnati. When half the human population is decimated by a virus spread through genetically engineered tomatoes, human beings learn that they are not alone. Witches, pixies, vampires, werewolves, and more share the planet with them. And now that the Inderlander population is roughly the same size as the human population, they want to be recognized. This is the world of Rachel Morgan, a runner (bounty hunter) for Inderland Security. A witch by birth, Rachel followed in her father's footsteps when she signed on to be a runner. But after several years of service Rachel is ready to quit and strike out on her own. One problem though: no one leaves the IS and lives to tell the tale. Within hours of quitting her job, Rachel's boss has put a contract out on her. Fortunately she did not leave the IS empty handed, as two of her co-workers elected to join her: vampire Ivy Tamwood (one of their best agents) and a pixie named Jenks. The three form a partnership and start their own independent runner agency. Now all Rachel needs to do is pay off the contract on her head. The opportunity to do this presents itself when Rachel learns that one of Cincinnati's most powerful citizens is making and selling antibiotics that have been outlawed. Will Rachel find a way to bring him in and in the process save herself from certain death before it's too late?

Damn this was a good book. Fantastic world building, kickass characters, a great storyline. It has it all. Reading it again made me more anxious than I already was for the next installment in the series, A Fistful of Charms. Sadly, June 27 is a long ways off. Although if you haven't read any books in this series (*cough* Mike *cough*) there is plenty of time to read the first three books before book four comes out.

For all my gushing about the Rachel Morgan series, my favorite read this week was Lasso the Moon by Beth Ciotta. I'm honest enough to admit when I'm a skeptical reader. When I saw that Beth's latest book was going to be a historical (eek!) western (double eek!) romance, I wasn't sure whether or not I would like it. I don't read a lot of historical fiction (regardless of what genre it falls in), and I've already stated my views about westerns. So I assumed there was a good chance that I wouldn't enjoy this book as much as I had enjoyed the author's previous works.

Color me wrong. Really wrong.

Lasso the Moon is the story of Paris Garrett, a talented songwriter who's out to fulfill a promise she made her father when she was just a child. Her father wanted her to become a famous stage actress, and although Paris would much rather stick to writing music, a promise is a promise. Running away from her four overprotective brothers, Paris travels to the Arizona Territory to make that promise a reality. Along the way she meets Josh Grant, a recently resigned sheriff who had to give up his badge when he inherited an opera house from his late uncle. Although a songwriter with a knack for attracting trouble is the last thing Josh needs, a stipulation in his uncle's will requiring him to marry post haste makes him reconsider letting Paris into his life. Could it be that fate has thrown the two together for a reason?

A humorous historical romance with a western setting, Lasso the Moon managed to do something that I never would have thought possible: it made me completely forget that I was reading a western. I got so wrapped up in the story, the characters, and the dialogue that it never occurred to me that I was reading a western and that I shouldn't be liking it. It was such an enjoyable read from beginning to end, I feel a bit embarrassed that I even doubted that I would enjoy. That will teach me to doubt my authors.

One warning though: if you are anything like me and tend to let loose with a snort laugh when something strikes you as really funny, you might want to refrain from reading Lasso the Moon in public. There is a lot of humor in this book, and my snort laughs were flying all over the place the other day. It was frightening.

Your turn. What have you been reading this week?

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