A Hard Day's Knight

Title: A Hard Day's Knight

Author: Simon R. Green

Series: Nightside, Bk 11

Publisher: Penguin

ISBN: 9781101475232

Length: 304 pages

Obtained: Library OverDrive ebook copy

Comments:

The Nightside and Arthur, Camelot, and the Knights of the Round Table - or in this case, the London Knights.

The series is coming to a close and you can feel it in this book.  Threads that have been lingering are being tied up, and the Nightside is in a strange place between staying the same and changing, complete with the beginning stages of a major war.  Of course, that isn't unusual for the Nightside.  John has already been through two other wars recently.

I only read one book prior to this one recently to remind me of what is going on, so you probably could just jump in.  However, I would definitely recommend starting from the beginning of the series so you can both watch John's growth and get a good feel for the Nightside and all its characters.  I'm both excited and dreading the next, and final, book of this series - The Bride Wore Black Leather.

The Good, the Bad, and the Uncanny

Title: The Good, the Bad, and the Uncanny

Author: Simon R. Green

Series: Nightside, Bk 10

ISBN: 9781101171455

Obtained: Library ebook copy

Comments:

I decided it is about time I finish this series.  Unfortunately, I forgot that I had already read this one.  All worked out, though, because while scenes were vaguely familiar as I read them, I remembered nothing in advance.  I do have a post from the first time I read this, but I will not be reading it until after I've written this one so I can provide fresh impressions.

I felt like I had already been through the bulk of the story, and then saw that I had just finished chapter 2.  The majority of this book was like that.  Loosely linked together with some connected threads, but told in what seemed more like short stories or episodes.  I do still enjoy this series, but I can tell I've forgotten a lot.  In that sense, the way this is written allowed me to be reintroduced to a number of characters that I recognize from throughout the series, but didn't distinctly remember.

And now I am ready to read book 11, A Hard Day's Knight.

I've gone back and re-read my first post, and I thinking I may need to re-read the other books in this series as well.  Apparently, I last read this in 2010.  What was I thinking to let such time pass by!

Ghost Talkers

Title: Ghost Talkers

Author: Mary Robinette Kowal

ISBN: 9780765378255

Length: 299 + "Acknowledgements" and "Historical Note"

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

I recently (a month or so ago) finished Mary Robinette Kowal's Glamourist Histories.  I needed to read more of her work so I requested Ghost Talkers.

Mediums talk to all of Britain's forces as they pass and before they move on as a means of gathering intelligence.  This has the added benefit of  allowing the soldiers to take care of unfinished business and pass on final words to loved ones.

The fantasy aspect was great. The mystery aspect was intriguing.  The romance aspect is rather sad.  The altered historical aspect is interesting.

Illusion Town

Title: Illusion Town

Author: Author: Jayne Castle aka Jayne Ann Krentz [Website][Facebook] aka Amanda Quick

Publisher: Jove Novel

Series: Harmony, Bk 13

ISBN: 9780515155754

Length: 340 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

Fan of this series/author.

Comments:

Illusion Town is the "Las Vegas" of Harmony, which had me trying to layer the real Vegas (what I've seen of it) with the description.

I liked Hannah and Elias, although I think there was more action and less characterization in this one.  Hannah is adopted and while she knows who her mother was, is very interested in her ancestry and genealogy.  It was very interesting to me to see that subject applied to a futuristic fantasy world.

As usual there was a doctor doing unethical studies with shady motives.  This is common in this world as well as JC's St. Helen's short-lived world.

And last but not least - Virgil the dust bunny was as adorable as all dust bunnies are.  I look forward to more books set in this world and further exploration of Harmony and it's alien past.

Siren's Call

Title: Siren's Call

Author: Jayne Castle aka Jayne Ann Krentz [Website][Facebook] aka Amanda Quick

Publisher: JOVE

Series: Harmony, Bk 12 ; Rainshadow, Bk 4 or 5 (depending on how you look at it)

ISBN: 9780515155747

Length: 323 pages

Obtained: Personal copy, purchased new

Why this book?:

I really enjoy this series and author.  When I saw it on the shelves I decided I needed to buy it (thankfully it is a paperback and therefore more affordable).  And then when it came out of the bag about a week later (my bad), I had to read it right away (nevermind that I was exhausted and had work the next morning).

Comments:

I liked Ella, Rafe, and, of course, Lorelei the dust bunny.  In fact, I love the Harmony and Rainshadow books overall.  They have managed to maintain their quick read status when I am becoming increasingly distracted and restless with my reading.

I thought the siren bit was cool, and the secret genetically passed down psychic ability is a theme I'm happy to revisit that makes the heroine "unmatchable" (but not really) brought me fond memories of the St. Helen's books (which I'll admit, I miss) as well as other Harmony books.

The alien dinosaur bit was interesting.  I thought the timing amusing considering Jurassic World coming out the same year.

Anyway, I look forward to future Harmony/Rainshadow books, as always.

Catch-up, Pt 2

I continue to attempt catching up with the many books read but not posted in months.

Title: Loot: How To Steal a Fortune

Author: Jude Watson [Website] aka Judy Blundell [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Scholastic Press

ISBN: 9780545468022

Length: 266 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book:

It features thieves, and I love books about thieves.

Comments:

It was okay, but not as good as I had hoped when I read the blurb and requested the library purchase it.

Christine Feehan [Website][Facebook][Twitter]'s GhostWalker Series

A friend asked me to be in her wedding.  While we were discussing old times, she asked if I still read Christine Feehan (an author I introduced her to)'s books.  I said I hadn't in a while.

But afterwards I suddenly felt like catching up on this particular series. So I read all that have been published to date.  I'll indicate if it was a re-read or new to me next to the title.

1. Shadow Game (re-read)
2. Mind Game (re-read)
3. Night Game (re-read)
4. Conspiracy Game (re-read)
5. Deadly Game (re-read)
6. Predatory Game (re-read)
7. Murder Game (re-read)
8. Street Game (re-read ... I think)
9. Ruthless Game (new-to-me)
10. Samurai Game (new-to-me)
11. Viper Game (new-to-me)

Comments:

These seem to be focusing more and more on sex.  I guess I should expect that, but it was annoying because I was skipping chunks of pages looking for the story toward the end of the series.  But I am still interested in reading more, so we'll see how it goes with future books.

Title: An Early Wake

Author: Sheila Connolly [Website][Facebook] aka Sarah Atwell [Berkley Prime Crime]

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Mystery

Series: County Cork Mystery, Bk 3

ISBN: 9780425252536

Length: 291 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I've been enjoying this series and author.

Comments:

Offered an interesting look into Irish musical history.  I enjoyed the overall story, but there were some inconsistencies that frustrated me beyond belief.  I had to keep setting the book down and distracting myself from whatever inconsistency before I moved on.

Nora Roberts [Website][Website 2][Facebook] re-reading and catch-up and all new...

Title: Brazen Virtue (re-read)

Follows Sacred Sins.  I've re-read this before and know and like the story.  But this time I saw it with fresh eyes.  Oh, technology.  How it does date books so.  I was 4 yo when this book was published.

The Sign of Seven Trilogy (new-to me ; catch-up)

Blood Brothers
The Hollow
The Pagan Stone

I had some trouble with picking these up when they came out years ago (even though I do own all of them).  Once I actually started I found myself caught up.  The books were interesting, and I liked the characters.

The Circle Trilogy (new-to-me ; catch-up)

Morrigan's Cross
Dance of the Gods
Valley of Silence

If I was going to catch-up on some unread trilogies, I may as well go all the way.  I was apparently in the right frame of mind for vampires now (that is, initially, why I never read this series).  I breezed through the series; I especially looked forward to the vampire's story in the 3rd book of the trilogy.

Title: The Liar (new)

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons

ISBN: 9780399170867

Length: 501 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

It's the newest Nora Roberts.

Comments:

It was pretty interesting: 1) the look at verbal abuse and its spiraling effect, 2) how one falls into the web of a master con-man, 3) how someone can pick themselves back up.

Shelby did seem to go from being shamed (courtesy of lies of an abuser) to proud (she had to do all the financial pick-up herself... no bankruptcy etc. for her).  But I still liked her.  And Griffin was pretty good too.  I did figure certain key aspects out way before any of the characters in the book.  Maybe because I've seen it in other books/movies before.  And I'll say no more lest I give something away.

Search and Rescue

Title: Search and Rescue

Author: Gail Anderson-Dargatz [Website][Twitter]

Publisher: Raven Books Rapid Reads

Series: Clair Abbott Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781459805767

Length: 102 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

This is one of the Rapid Reads books I asked the library to read.  It is also another book that counts toward the 8th annual Canadian Book Challenge held by The Book Mine Set since Gail Anderson-Dargatz lives in British Columbia.

Comments: 

Hmmm.  Claire seems like an interesting character.  But her mom seems a bit of a ditz and Claire has indications of following in her footsteps - and I'm not referring to the psychic abilities.  This is one of the Rapid Reads which means it is supposed to promote adult literacy.  It takes place all in one night, with dangerous conditions and scenario to help keep the blood pumping and the reader involved.  

In general, I enjoyed it, and I probably would/will read more of the series.  

But that isn't to say I didn't recognize problems and they do exist.  The rest of this has SPOILERS... beware...


- Claire stands up her date - again.  And despite repeated reminders, never calls to tell him or explain.
- Claire, once knowing she's going to trek around in dangerous winter conditions in search of a missing girl, does not take the time to stop and change her entirely inappropriate clothes or pick up the mobile phone she left at home.
- Claire's mom, instead of getting help in a hostage situation, sticks around so they all are in danger with no possibility of backup.  This leaves them dependent on sheer luck. !!! This is the only point I mention about Claire's mom, but it is such a big one I just couldn't BELIEVE it.
- After everyone, including Mike, believes in Claire, he takes her out.  Claire STILL hasn't contacted her planned date.  She thinks it's over, and has decided she's not really into him.  But she hasn't even told him yet.  Seemed kinda tacky and in poor manners.  On both her and Mike's parts (he's aware of the situation).

Midnight Crossroad

Title: Midnight Crossroad

Author: Charlaine Harris [Website][Facebook][IMDb]

Publisher: ACE

Series: Midnight, Texas, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780425263150

Length: 305 pages

Obtained: Purchased at a convention so I could get an autograph/picture with Charlaine Harris

Why this book?:

I wanted to read it eventually because I have enjoyed Charlaine Harris's writing in the past, and I knew it was connected to the Harper Connelly series which I finished in January 2014.  I needed to read it now because I offered in in a paperbackswap.com game, and needed to get it in the mail.

Comments:

I quickly found myself interested in Midnight and the "characters" (I mean that it multiple ways) that inhabit it.  I found (to my surprise) that not only is Manfred from the Harper Connelly series in this book, but also Bobo from the Lily Bard series.  I knew there had to be other characters from other series, so I've gone looking.  Sheriff Arthur Smith is apparently from the Aurora Teagarden mysteries (Found this thanks to LibraryThing).  I'm not entirely sure who is from the Sookie Stackhouse series.  It has been so long since I've read any of them (2009)... between my memory slipping and potential name changes...  But I'm sure at least one character is from that series.

Anyway, so beyond spotting familiar characters among the pages of the story,the story itself was interesting.  Manfred is setting up in this quaint little town.  He fits in rather well, as he's as different and accepting of different as the other residents.  He's with many of these characters at a picnic when they discover that Bobo's missing girlfriend is actually dead and there is a murderer among them.  But figuring out who that might be amongst such a tight-knit group where you don't ask questions and leave each-others secrets be is not so easy.

I look forward to reading more about the residents of Midnight, Texas when book 2, Day Shift, comes out May 2015.

The Hot Zone

Title: The Hot Zone

Author: Jayne Castle aka Jayne Ann Krentz [Website][Facebook] aka Amanda Quick

Publisher: Jove Novel

Series: Rainshadow Island, Bk 3 (Though technically the 3rd book in the Looking Glass Trilogy is the 1st Rainshadow book, making this book 4) ;  Harmony, Bk 11

ISBN: 9780515154726

Length: 338 pages 

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I'm a fan of the author, series, and world.  I was immediately drawn to it.

Comments:

I picked this up and finished it in one day.  That doesn't happen often with me anymore.  I was immediately engrossed and didn't want to put it down.  

Some of the connection between the heroine and hero may have been rushed, but I didn't care.  I can't wait for more.  Sedona was great in particular.  She's been through a lot, but she's making life work.  As can often be found in JAK/AQ/JC books, family also plays a role.  Despite the fact that it obviously has a place in the story, the family aspect was a bit rushed as well.

Actually, as a whole the book kind of felt like a novella, in that I could have had more all the way around.  But it still didn't disappoint.  Maybe it just felt that way because the pace was so fast?  After the initial introduction into what happened to Sedona, the scene jumps to her life on Rainshadow.  From then on time seems to fly, and everything takes place in a short time span.

Anyway, as always the dust bunnies were awesome.  Lyle's always there when Sedona needs him, and he's also there for the community in Rainshadow - both the human community (namely the children) and the dust bunny one.

The Halloween aspect seemed a bit early (I was surprised the book wasn't released a little later), but that was okay.  It's already out in the stores as well.  And it was interesting to see Halloween portrayed in the world of Harmony.

I am looking forward to the next JAK/AQ/JC book (Trust No One by JAK, due out Jan. 2015) and especially the next Rainshadow/Harmony book.

A Tiger's Tale

Title: A Tiger's Tale

Author: Laura Morrigan [Website]

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Mystery

Series: Call of the Wilde Mystery, Bk 2

ISBN: 9780425257203

Length: 328 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I had just finished Woof at the Door; I was interested in Grace's story and wanted to read more.

Comments:

So this time around Grace is called out to a rescue to check on a Tiger that isn't behaving like himself.  In the process she learns of a girl who is apparently missing.  No one is looking into the girl's whereabouts though, and Grace is concerned enough to start investigating.

I like Grace, despite the fact that she can be a little but of an anti-trust ninja.  I like Kai (romantic interest and detective).  I love the animals involved in the books/stories.  There are some (too many) assumptions made, but not too many for me to handle.  And not everything surrounding the mystery is as it seems, which is nice.

I look forward to a book 3 (next summer?).

Woof at the Door

Title: Woof at the Door

Author: Laura Morrigan [Website]

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Mystery

Series: Call of the Wilde Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780425257197

Length: 295 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

It was overdue, my hold for the 2nd book had just come in at the library, and I was in the mood.

Comments:

I didn't read the blurbs ahead of time, so I was surprised by a line on the 2nd page, "Like Dr. Dolittle and Ace Ventura, I can, and do, talk to animals."  First, I read the Dr. Dolittle books as a child, so this line brought a fond-memory induced smile to my face.  But second, she talks to animals! And solves mysteries! (Oh the little things that thrill me.)  Now I recently had a dog ghost that talked, but this is all animals.  Like in Tamora Pierce's YA fantasy books.  Suffice it to say I'm very happy with this aspect.

Anyway, Grace is called in to help with a supposedly vicious Doberman whose owner was just murdered.  Not only does Grace calm him, but she realizes he's the only witness.  But he's freaked out and not sharing clearly, and once he does how can she possibly tell anyone?  No one will believe her... or will they?

I zipped right through this and the 2nd book, A Tiger's Tale, after it.

Scorched

Title: Scorched

Author: Mari Mancusi [Website][Facebook][Twitter] aka Marianne Mancusi

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Series: Scorched, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781402284588

Length: 340 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

Dragons are awesome.  I've read Boys That Bite by her years ago and found it enjoyable, though I didn't continue with the series.  Oh, and the book was way overdue and couldn't be renewed anymore - I needed to hurry and read it.

Comments:

I put a hold on this when I saw it on Wowbrary, but I didn't remember what the blurb said and I didn't want to read the dust jacket description... which meant the book was a mystery to me (other than the obvious it had something to do with dragons).

There's time travel (from the future to present day), dragons, special powers, a museum, danger, good vs. evil, choice, friends, enemies, and the unknown.

I was kinda hoping for a stand alone.  You know the type with lots of questions left to your own imagination and speculation.  But I can also see this as a series.  And in that case this is most definitely only the beginning.  So much is left to be seen and answered.

I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading book 2, Shattered (due out September 2014).

Trailer:

 

Harper Connelly and Lily Bard Series by Charlaine Harris

I'm going to be frank.  I read a blur of Charlaine Harris eBooks, moving immediately from one to the next, and most of them on my stay in Europe.  I don't have many impressions of individual books.  But I'll give overall impressions and comments of the series (so far as I've read them).

Author: Charlaine Harris [Website][Facebook][IMDb]

Obtained: All the eBooks were library copies.  But I do own the hard copies for the Harper Connelly series.

Series: Harper Connelly, Bks 1-4

Grave Sight
Grave Surprise
An Ice Cold Grave
Grave Secret

I have mixed feelings about the characters.

Harper tends to hold herself back with the reader as much as the other characters in the book.  And when she wasn't distant, as the narrator, she was graphic (more so than I appreciated, though I'm sure others wouldn't mind).

Tolliver was okay, I guess.  He had jealousy issues, but then with Harper's combination of obliviousness mixed with her wishy-washy commitment (there were all these comments about how she found Manfred so tempting), I guess I can't entirely blame him.

I did like Manfred, which is good because he has his own new series (trilogy) - Midnight, Texas - starting with Midnight Crossroad.

Series: Lily Bard, Bks 1-2

Shakespeare's Landlord
Shakespeare's Champion

I've heard GREAT THINGS about this series.  So I was kinda surprised about Lily.  She's possibly even more withdrawn than Harper.  This is perhaps more understandable considering her background - brutal rape, etc.  But it does make it harder to connect with the character.  I was also thrown by the weight-lifter thing, although I get it, again considering her background.  But because of this background she makes choices I don't understand.

Like in the very beginning of Shakespeare's Landlord, Lily witnesses a body being disposed, and she tampers with evidence (!!!) because it could point to her.  Maybe that sounds common sense to you, but it caught me off guard.  I guess maybe because I'm used to amateur sleuth types immediately reporting the bodies they find.  (Because while I wouldn't call these books cozy, Lily does play the amateur sleuth role.)

Anyway, I will continue to see how the series progresses with Shakespeare's Christmas.

Never Forgotten

Title: Never Forgotten

Author: Terri Reid [Website] [Facebook]

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

Series: Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery, Bk 3

ISBN: 9781482713558

Length: 237 pages + "A note from the author"

Obtained: ILL Library copy

Why this book?:

I finished the 2nd book in the series and was ready to see what happens next in the 3rd.

Comments:

As the 3rd book in the series, and following the cliffhanger of the 2nd, the reader is all set to finally find out what happened to Bradley's wife and unborn daughter.  But the reader is not going to get their way in this.  Because certain parties are sworn to confidentiality and others are oblivious.  Instead you get a book full of domestic abuse as not one, but two story lines, share that theme.  It's an intense subject that's addressed decently, if not with all the emotional intensity it could have.

Anyway, there is a seriously messed-up woman going around murdering men, and Bradley's next on the list.  Meanwhile, Mary and Bradley are in more of a committed relationship, both having declared their love for each other in Good Tidings.  That is, as committed as you can be when one of you is possibly still married.

Which brings me to the next item of interest.  One review (I want to say on GoodReads, but it could have been Amazon), mentioned that the series suddenly turned Christian.  I found this amusing, because it did suddenly become more religious.  I don't know if its because the book was set around the holidays (between Christmas and New Year), because of the domestic violence and mental issue theme, because of the growing relationship between Mary and Bradley (Mary says she doesn't intend to have premarital relations - she doesn't give a morality reason though.  More of a story about her parents love.)  Whatever the cause, I had noticed the shift as well.

Anyway, I was frustrated by the ending (which I won't go into for fear of spoilers), but I do want to continue with the series.  I've requested my library get the 4th book in the series, Final Call, so we'll see.

Good Tidings

Title: Good Tidings

Author: Terri Reid [Website] [Facebook]

Series: Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery, Bk 2

ASIN: B004DI7JZO

Length: 381 KB (284 pages)

Obtained: Free ebook copy on Amazon during a special promotional period

Why this book?:

It is the second book in a series that was recommended to me.  I enjoyed/was interested in the 1st book enough to go on.

Comments:

So the prologue caught me.  Even though I couldn't understand the trust.  I was mentally shouting NO!!! Bad Idea!  Anyway, that meant I was pretty edge of my seat when chapter 1 starts off in a light-hearted way.  And I was impatient for them to get on with it!  Find the baby!  Because, oh, did I mention?, this is a baby-kidnapping-fradulant-adoption story.  (A theme that I've seen before, but this had an interesting twist.  Or at least an interesting information source.)

Once the story catches up with the drama, I settled in.  The bad guy is pretty obvious.  Not a problem for me.  There were valid reasons why it wouldn't be as obvious to the characters as to the reader.  I did read a review on Amazon that pointed out some plot line connection issues that, now that I'm thinking of them, do make me wonder.  But overall I still enjoyed the story.

And I've already continued on and read book 3.  (There's a bit of a cliffhanger that made me glad I already had it on hand.)

Oh, and in (accidental) perfect timing, the story starts on Black Friday and ends around Christmas.  So I was actually in season.

The Bone Season

Title: The Bone Season

Author: Samantha Shannon [Website/Blog][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Series: Bone Season, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781620401392

Length: ""The Seven Orders of Clairvoyance" + Map of "The Penal Colony of Sheol I" + 452 pages + "Glossary"

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

It first came to my attention because I was instructed at work to "keep an eye on" Today's new Book Club.  This was their first read.  I didn't read it on time for their purposes (and I won't be reading all), but it did sound interesting.  So I added it to my holds-list.

Comments:

I read this pretty quickly considering how long it is.  A couple of days around work/etc.  There's some world-setting (other reviewer's call it info-dumping), but I was fine with that.  The clairvoyants are "unnatural" and tracked down.  Of course this doesn't stop them, only makes them operate underground.  Many end up in syndicates that basically amount to gangs.

I hadn't heard all the "new J.K. Rowling" hype, so I never thought to compare them.  Instead, I thought of it more in terms of genre - dystopian.  With consideration for the aliens tossed in.

As for the characters, I liked Paige.  I even (mostly) liked Warden.  (I saw reviews after the fact of those who did not).  The other characters were good or bad as it goes, but not outstanding enough to remember (That's not to say the bad guys weren't sickeningly so.  I just think of them as more collectively bad than individually bad.)...

Amazingly, despite my bias against dystopian books, I did enjoy this.  Or at least I found it intense enough to keep my interest.  I was reading it during my dinner break and found myself frustrated that I was so close to the end and had to go back to work.  Ah, well.  Such is life.  I did eventually finish it.  And I'm very curious as to what will happen next.  Though I was surprised to see this has been proposed as a 7-book series.  What is going to happen that takes 7 books?  I guess we'll see if it's a good (I want more!) thing or a bad (totally dragging) thing.

Loose Ends

Title: Loose Ends

Author: Terri Reid [Website] [Facebook]

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

Series: Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781461014522

Length: 273 pages

Obtained: ILL Library copy

Why this book?:

It was recommended by a friend.

Comments:

I didn't know what to expect of this, other than J. Kaye mentioning the author as one she'd recently found.

I liked that Mary O'Reilly came with such an honorable background before the paranormal investigative part became part of her life.  I liked that she wasn't too pushy about what she did.  Obviously she wanted people to believe her, but I didn't feel any, as the reader, "you must believe or you are an ignorant fool."  Her friends in her newfound hometown were charming.  I liked the police chief (But talk about baggage!  We'll see how that goes.)

The mystery isn't complex, or at least not from the reader's standpoint.  I guessed the murdered once he had time on the page.  But that's not a problem for me as long as Mary isn't stupid and missing in-your-face clues about it.

Anyway, Mary's been hired to solve a cold case for a Senator's wife, and in the process she uncovers a series of old child abductions.  Talk about sickening.  But the book isn't without its amusing parts.  So I enjoyed it.

I got book two, Good Tidings, free through Amazon.  And I have the 3rd book, Never Forgotten, coming through as another InterLibrary Loan.  So I should be moving on with the series soon.

Rogue Oracle

Title: Rogue Oracle

Author: Alayna Williams aka Laura Bickle [Old Website]

Publisher: Pocket Books Urban Fantasy

Series: Delphic Oracle #2

ISBN: 9781439182819

Length: 360 pages

Obtained: Personal copy purchased at Dollar General

Why this book?:

It looked interesting and at the time I thought it was a first in series.

Comments:

Like the first book, this one had a bit too much description of the tarot cards and their interpretations for me.  But there was less.

The background history on the case - cold war spies and the Chernobyl disaster was interesting, and, I think, unique.  It definitely interested me in the history of the time.  Early this year I saw Visit Sunny Chernobyl on someone's blog and had considered reading it.  Now I definitely think I need to read something on the subject.  It's certainly fascinating and horrifying all at once.

But this is an urban fantasy book, and it's best not to forget this.  Of course the bad guy in this one is so - I don't even know what word to use - but it definitely helped keep the fantasy in mind.  In a creepy, horrible way.

The oracle stuff (the others - the Delphi's Daughters), I was not as pleased about.  Mostly it seemed weird.  The relationships between them and all that, I mean. =/

Anyway, I'd definitely be interested in trying more by this author.  Her Anya Kalinczyk series (under the name Laura Bickle) sounds interesting...

Dark Oracle

Title: Dark Oracle

Author: Alayna Williams aka Laura Bickle [Old Website]

Publisher: Pocket Books Urban Fantasy

Series: Delphic Oracle #1

ISBN: 9781439182796

Length: 327 pages

Obtained: ILL Library copy

Why this book?:

I had purchased the second book and didn't want to read out of order.

Comments:

This had a LOT of description about Tara's tarot cards, their interpretations, etc.  I was torn.  I could see how this pertained to the story.  After all, this is a huge factor in many of Tara's decisions.  On the other hand, I didn't need that much detail when I don't plan on learning them myself.  So I found myself skimming.  I don't like skimming because I miss details that are important.  Plus it makes me question whether I'm "reading" when I skim.

Anyway - this brings me back to torn.  The overall story was was interesting.  Not especially realistic on multiple levels, but is that really necessary?  And I liked Tara (main character), Harry (government liaison and partner), Cassie (missing dude's daughter), and Martin (Harry's father-figure).

And of course I read the second book after this one.

Deception Cove

Title: Deception Cove

Author: Jayne Castle aka Jayne Ann Krentz aka Amanda Quick

Publisher: Jove Novel

Series: Rainshadow Island, Bk 2 (Though technically the 3rd book in the Looking Glass Trilogy is the 1st Rainshadow book, making this book 3) ;  Harmony, Bk 10

ISBN: 9780515152852

Length: 342 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I enjoy this author's books and this series (and dust bunnies!)

Comments:

As usual, I liked the characters for this book - Alice, the heroine (who could appear to be invisible), Houdini, the dust bunny (who wouldn't like any of the dust bunnies?), and Drake, the hero.

Drake's "day-blind" bit was interesting, though I kinda think it would have been great if he was genuinely blind and his ability lay somewhere else.  On the other hand, I can see why in an advanced futuristic world technology would need to have advanced to such a point.

This wasn't my favorite Jayne Castle book, but I still enjoyed it and look forward to more.