Anyone who follows me on Twitter has probably noticed my obsession with Charlaine Harris lately. (ie, I finally decided to stop 'punishing' all the non-Sookie books and discovered Charlaine rocks no matter what she writes.)
I recently interrupted the Harris glom for Sherry Thomas' latest novel, Not Quite a Husband.
NYT best-selling author Lisa Kleypas calls Sherry Thomas ‘the most powerfully original historical romance author writing today.’ I have to admit, I am just as much a fan. After an unabashed love affair with both Private Arrangements and Delicious, I sprinted to my local bookseller almost the minute I heard Not Quite a Husband was out. I then let it languish on my desk for days.
I follow Sherry on Twitter, where she had bemoaned some revisions and agonized over word usage. I hadn’t had a good week. I needed an indulgent treat – what if #NQAH didn’t live up to my expectations? On the third day, I gathered my courage and eased open the cover.
Silly me, of little faith. I finally surfaced to the realization that it was hours past my bedtime.
If there is one thing that sets Sherry Thomas apart from the crowd, it is her prose. I think I would read anything she wrote just to wallow in the richness of her language. Fortunately, she uses that wonderful voice to create unique unforgettable characters, toss them into a fully-developed historical backdrop, and then poke and prod at their strengths, weaknesses, dreams, and insecurities until they emerge into a strong, balanced relationship. Did I mention the inviting historical tidbits? Did I mention Sherry does her research?
If there is one thing that sets Sherry Thomas apart from the crowd, it is her prose. I think I would read anything she wrote just to wallow in the richness of her language. Fortunately, she uses that wonderful voice to create unique unforgettable characters, toss them into a fully-developed historical backdrop, and then poke and prod at their strengths, weaknesses, dreams, and insecurities until they emerge into a strong, balanced relationship. Did I mention the inviting historical tidbits? Did I mention Sherry does her research?
Finally, the one thing I can’t do is categorize “what to expect” from a Sherry Thomas novel (except the prose thing; I think I covered that). Private Arrangements drew me in with it’s unexpected plot and character twists. Delicious was food porn. (Sorry Sherry, I know there were people, but I was salivating too much to pay attention to them.) Not Quite a Husband locked me in a vice grip of emotional intensity that sweeps back over me every time I glance at the cover. The besieged fort in the middle of India’s Swat valley went almost unnoticed next to the emotional battles Bryony and Leo are waging.
What’s next, Ms. Thomas? I’ll be reading!
--Nitpicky postscript - This cover wasn't nearly as wonderful as the original cover for PA. Who decides these things? Something that at least hinted at Victorian dress (which I find sexy) would have been nice.
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