It's Monday! What are you reading? 7/23/2018

Hosted by: Book Date

Another week has passed.  My sister and BIL (who have been staying with us) finally signed for their new house...next door.  Now they just need to wait for the tenants to leave and get some basic reno/remodeling done and they will be moving out - with the 3 kiddos, 2 dogs, 1 cat, 2 guinea pigs, 2 birds, and 1 bearded dragon.  I love them, but I can't wait!  So close! I suspect this next month or two before things settle may be the hardest for me.

Earlier this summer I won a free helicopter ride over my hometown.  I plan to use it this week, so I'm super psyched!

On the reading side, most of what I read was short, but at least it feels like I've accomplished something...

This week I finished reading:

The Good, the Bad, and the Uncanny (Nightside, Bk 10) by Simon R. Green - [My post / re-read] I've already started book 11, A Hard Day's Knight.

Mary Flora Bell: The Horrific True Story Behind an Innocent Girl Serial Killer by Nancy A. Veysey and Ryan Becker - [My post]

White Sand Blues (Ashley Grant, Bk 1) by Vicki Delany - [My post] The first book I've read for the 12th annual Canadian Book Challenge!

Dog Dish of Doom (Agent to the Paws, Bk 1) by E. J. Copperman - [My post] I look forward to reading book 2, Bird, Bath, and Beyond (I have a review copy).

Saving Fiona: The Story of the World's Most Famous Baby Hippo by Thane Maynard - [Goodreads] This children's story tells the story of premature hippo Fiona who was born at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden in early 2017.  A cute feel-good story.  The end includes facts about hippos.

I'm currently reading:

In audio (on CD), I've been listening to Moby Dick by Herman Melville (read by Paul Boehmer).  This week I heard an entire lecture on the ways whaling is a good, beneficial industry (sorry not buying it), heard a description of the ship and its set off for the upcoming 3 year journey, and been introduced to the ship officers.  The last part was particularly difficult for me to focus on, unfortunately.  I found my mind wandering throughout.

A Hard Day's Knight (Nightside, Bk 11) by Simon R. Green (library OverDrive ebook)

The Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke (Edelweiss+ review copy ebook)

Eye of the Shoal : a Fish-watcher's Guide to Life, the Ocean and Everything by Helen Scales (library hardcover)

Coyote Tales by Thomas King (library Hoopla ebook) - American/Canadian author

The Story: Chapter 1 "Creation: The Beginning of Life as We Know It" - (library Hoopla eAudio) - I saw a later chapter on another blog on a previous Monday - I can't remember who/where - and decided to try it.

Up next:

 

I have returned yet more library books unread.  Some of the library books I still have out include (my apologies for the low-quality pic above):

The Saturday Morning Murder (Michael Ohayon, Bk 1) by Batya Gur
The Silk Train Murder (Kondike Era Mystery, Bk 1) by Sharon Rowse
Who Moved My Goat Cheese? (Farm-to-Fork Mystery, Bk 1) by Lynn Cahoon
Murder at the Mansion (Victorian Village Mystery, Bk 1) by Sheila Connolly
Bannerless (Bannerless, Bk 1) by Carrie Vaughn
Cat About Town (Cat Cafe Mystery, Bk 1) by Cate Conte
The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker (book discussion book)
The Door to the Lost by Jaleigh Johnson
The Scroll of Kings (Lost Books, Bk 1) by Sarah Prineas
Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi; Translated by Jonathan Wright
Tricks for Free (InCryptid, Bk 7) by Seanan McGuire
Happy Cactus: Cacti, Succulents, and More

White Sand Blues

Title: White Sand Blues

Author: Vicki Delany

Publisher: Rapid Reads (Orca)

Series: Ashley Grant Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781459815353

Length: 138 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

This is the first book I've read for the 12th annual Canadian Book Challenge.  This book is set in the Victoria and Albert Islands (which apparently fall under Britain), but the author Vicki Delany is Canadian, as are the primary and several secondary characters.

This is a Rapid Reads book, which means it is short and fast paced - meant for those who need help with adult literacy or reluctant readers.  Vicki has also written a standalone, A Winter Kill, and the Ray Robertson series (book 1 is Juba Good) for this line.

While I preferred the Ray Robertson series to this book, it was a quick and enjoyable mystery.  Ahsleyhas just gotten in and hasn't even been to her hotel when she is called in to help on her first case as a medic for the Grand Victoria Island; a Canadian has been found dead in the water.  Her intriductionto this new job is even more startling when it turns out she knows the victim's daughter from her school days back in Canada.

I look forward to reading book 2 in this series, Blue Water Hues.

It's Monday! What are you reading? 7/16/2018

Hosted by: Book Date

It's been a week.  Dog training classes (2), book club, crafting night, volunteering (at a local cat rescue), worship, work, and some family things.  All in the life.

One of the dogs is on a mole hunt in the backyard.  She has dug several large holes along the fence-line trying to catch this mole.  Last year it took her the bulk of the summer to catch the mole plaguing us, and in the meantime we ended up with holes across the entire yard.  You can tell where it/they move(s) by watching the dog (as well as the tunnels that pop up, of course). Her head cocks as she listens, she sniffs around, and next thing you know dirt is flying.  Once she has decided the mole is out of reach she comes back with a dirty brown nose, dirty white sock paws, and an innocent "didn't I do good?" look.

Oh, and I almost forgot! I finally have my desktop set up!  (Many thanks to my father who spent hours running virus protection on my old, tired Vista and then more transferring all my files to a portable external hard drive.)  I've been a year+ just borrowing other computers.  This should definitely help my blogging.

This week I finished reading:

Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig - [My post] An emotional and intense read.


From the Charred Remains (Lucy Campion Mystery, Bk 2) by Susanna Calkins - [My post] I look forward to beginning book three in this series.

I'm currently reading:

In audio (on CD), I've been listening to Moby Dick by Herman Melville (read by Paul Boehmer).  I haven't gotten much further in this story because I had some (Celtic) music CDs come in.  Ishmael has secured his place on the whaling vessel of his choice and will be introducing Queequeg.


Mary Flora Bell : The Horrific True Story Behind an Innocent Girl Serial Killer by Nancy A. Veysey and Ryan Becker - This book needed a lot more editing.  The punctuation is horrible, and the actual writing is too casual and scattered.  But the story and content is interesting (if horrifying and tragic).

The Good, the Bad, and the Uncanny (Nightside, Bk 10) by Simon R. Green - A new coworker's question about if I've been reading anything good lately brought the revelation that I haven't been reading enough fantasy lately.  So I decided to finish up the Nightside series.  I thought I was picking up where I left off, but as I've been reading the story began to feel vaguely familiar.  That would be because I've read it before... [My original post]  I'm going to finish it out without reading my post, and I guess this can still be a springboard to the end of the series.

Up next:

I have too many library books at once, and had to return some unread.  I hope to get back to them some other time.  Some of the library books I still have out include:

Eye of the Shoal : a Fish-watcher's Guide to Life, the Ocean and Everything by Helen Scales
The Scroll of Kings (Lost Books, Bk 1) by Sarah Prineas
White Sand Blues (Ashley Grant Mystery, Bk 1) by Vicki Delany (Canadian Author)
Almost Adulting: All You Need to Know to Get It Together (Sort Of) by Arden Rose

Elementary, She Read

Title: Elementary, She Read

Author: Vicki Delaney [Website][Facebook][Twitter] aka Eva Gates [Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Series: Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781683310969

Obtained: NetGalley

Why this book?:

I loved the cover, the Shelock Holmes Bookstore idea was appealing, and I've read and enjoyed Vicki Delany's books before.

Comments:

I enjoyed this book.  I liked Gemma, despite that manner that likens her to Sherlock.  The setting was fun (I've always liked the idea of owning a bookstore, and the Sherlock bit was particularly interesting to contemplate).  And while I did not have good feelings about the bad guy, I also didn't guess that he/she was the bad guy; I thought he/she was just not a likable character.

I look forward to reading more in this series.

Juba Good

Title: Juba Good

Author: Vicki Delaney [Website][Facebook][Twitter] aka Eva Gates [Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Raven Books Rapid Reads

Series: Ray Robertson Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781459804906

Length: 119 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I was checking out some of the Rapid Reads titles.  When I saw Vicki Delany had a new one I had to request the library get it.  Plus it counts toward the 8th annual Canadian Book Challenge held by The Book Mine Set since Vicki Delany lives in Ontario.

Comments:

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sergeant Ray Robertson is approaching the end of his year in Juba, South Sudan as a UN mentor.  But there has been a string of murders and piecing together clues as to who the killer may be isn't easy under the conditions.

Like all Rapid Reads the book is a quick read, with short sentences and simple wording while remaining engaging and fast paced (though not as much so as some I've read)... Perfect for reluctant readers, etc. who still want adult material.

The book also provided an interesting (if sometimes difficult) view of this newly (2011) independent state.  I'm very interested in reading more about Ray Robertson in future stories.

A Winter Kill

Title: A Winter Kill

Author: Vicki Delaney [Website][Facebook][Twitter] aka Eva Gates [Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Rapid Reads (Raven Books)

ISBN: 9781554699568

Pages: 111

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

I had to read this book for a number of reasons.  It's another Canadian book (set in Ontario).  It's by the same author that writes the Klondike Mysteries I've been reading.  And it's a Rapid Read.  I know I've gone on about Rapid Reads before, but I'm going to do so again.  I just love the idea of a line of books for adults with literacy issues and reluctant readers.  I admire the line and the authors who write for it.  You can imagine how excited I was when I discovered one of the Canadian authors I've been trying out recently had written a book for this line.   So I requested the library purchase it.

This was actually a little different than some of the Rapid Reads I've tried so far.  Instead of being a story that takes place in a shorter amount of time, the story does take place over days.  I suppose this actually makes the investigation more realistic.  It was also different from the Vicki Delany books I've read so far as it's a contemporary mystery.

The primary character, Nicole Patterson, is likable enough.  I did like her more before her primary interest/motivation in the case was revealed.  Said interest was relevant to the times and showed a fallibility that made for more realism in what seemed to be unrealistic investigation by someone so low ranking in law enforcement.  But it was one of those things that, once discovered, you want to distance yourself from.

Overall, the story was a quick read.  This was especially convenient as I've found it incredibly difficult to concentrate on reading recently.

Gold Fever

Title: Gold Fever

Author: Vicki Delany

Publisher: RendezVous Crime

Series: Klondike Mystery, Bk 2

ISBN: 9781926607023

Pages: 290

Obtained: ILL library copy


Comments:

I put off reading this until the day it was due (don't ask why... I enjoyed the first one).  Once I finally read it, I was quickly re-immersed in late 19th century Klondike gold rush period with Fiona and her friends and family.  The one thing that I find a little irritating is how Fiona goes on (often) about being the most beautiful woman in Dawson and how she isn't bragging.  Beyond that I like her.  I enjoyed the mystery aspect as well.  There was a lot going on that managed to confuse things.  Anyway, while I'm still hesitant about apparently going backwards in Fiona's timeline (I'm hoping I'm wrong), I will still be reading Gold Mountain.  And I have a Rapid Read by Vicki Delany waiting as well.

Gold Digger

Title: Gold Digger

Author: Vicki Delany

Publisher: RendezVous Crime

Series: Klondike Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781894917803

Pages: 317

Obtained: Library ILL copy

Comments:

I really enjoyed this.  I liked Fiona, though at times she could be a bit arrogant.  She was very certain that she was the most beautiful woman in town and that, of course men would look at her, adore her, etc.  But beyond that, she's a strong woman, a good, loving mother, and a successful businesswoman.  So when a man who made a lot of enemies quickly in the town, in her dance hall, with her employees and customers alike is murdered and left in her place of business, well, of course she's going to look into it.  I liked some of the other characters as well.  Fiona's son Angus, the Constable Richard Sterling (of the North-West Mounted Police), and various other characters in town (like Mouse) made a charming lot.

In addition to the characters, I was intrigued by the setting and time period.  Can you imagine what it would be like during the Klondike Gold Rush?  Oh, there would be all the negative aspects, the impact on families, the way the men got caught in the gamble, the poor living conditions, etc.  And this story lets the reader see those points.  But it also displayed the adventure, and the hope for change and betterment.

The book has an alternating person view.  Written in first-person from Fiona's perspective and third-person from anyone else (mostly Angus, sometimes Constable Sterling, etc).  The transition took me by surprise the first time or two, but once I adjusted I actually appreciated this.  It allows the reader to connect with and better understand Fiona.  But you also get an idea of what is happening in her absence.  There's my never-ending curiosity peeking through.

Anyway, I've requested the second book, Gold Fever, through ILL as well.  The library has the third, Gold Mountain, on order already (that's actually what drew my attention to the series).  It looks like the 3rd book actually goes back to a time prior to the 1st, which is frustrating.  But I still hope to read both soon.