Dark Tort - Diane Mott Davidson

Another book in the Goldie Culinary Mysteries series. I wonder how long she can really keep this up. This was book 13 and I am really starting to get the hang of enjoying these. I have to read them quickly and not think about them too much. If I do think too much, I can easily figure out where things are going. Each book in the series has become less and less enjoyable. I will probably continue with the series, but I'll make sure to get them used and in paperback.

In this installment, the neighbor is murdered and Goldie discovers the body. Now, she is off to help find the killer.

This one will go to the family reading circle and then back to the independent bookstore.

Confessor - Terry Goodkind

Yippee, the Sword of Truth series is over! This last book in the series was fast paced and action packed; wrapping up all of the major characters that have played a role in the last 10 books. This is not a book that someone who hasn't read any of the rest of the series should read. I have read the rest of the series (more than once for most books) and I was thinking, "and how does this character fit again?"

Somehow he has tied up all the loose ends and still left the door open to return to this world sometime in the future. However, it wasn't enough for me to keep the series. Now that it has been finished, I'll be taking all of the books to the book store for credit.

The Obsidian Trilogy - Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory

I like Mercedes Lackey - she writes brain candy for the fantasy crowd. Some of her books have more to them, but most of them are just a nice adventure story with a fun cast of characters. After all the mystery / suspense / detective brain candy reading of recent months, I needed a new flavor. I picked a book in a series that came out after the last book I read by Lackey - about 2 years ago. It turns out that I should REALLY look at my book case more often. After starting The Outstretched Shadow I realized I had already read it! But, I re-read it and then moved on to the rest of the trilogy: To Light a Candle and When Darkness Falls.

This is the standard fantasy set up; magic, disenfranchised youth, evil forces, etc. With the usual caste of characters - centaurs, mages, unicorns, elves, demons, trolls, etc., it felt more like a Salvatore story than a Lackey one. I enjoyed the main characters, they didn't feel one dimensional. And they went by quickly. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy Salvatore or those who want brain candy in the fantasy flavor.

I'm not sure if it will stay on my shelf, but I will try to get Higgy to read it before it leaves the house and maybe Joe once Higgy is done.

Mad Ship - Robin Hobb

Second book in the Liveship Traders Trilogy. This one focus more on the life of a pirate raiding the slaveships, while also focusing on families in Bingtown. Same themes, same great storytelling.

It will be on the shelf.

Ship of Magic - Robin Hobb

Oh, I do enjoy Robin Hobb. I tried to read this series years ago and just couldn't get into it. I returned it. I picked it up again used. I was missing out.

The story follows the lives of people in Bingtown - an outpost of a distant ruler and founded on the Cursed Shores. There were ancient bargains made that shape the culture and politics of the area, but now newcomers are invading and changing the way of life. They bring slavery and a lack of respect for women with them. The theme of many fantasy novels is around political ideas and being self supporting, but with this series it is about free will. The story revolves around destiny, fate, and the characters ability to determine their own way. At the same time, there are discussions about slavery - what attitudes are needed on the part of the owners and society to let it occur in the first place. It is also about standing up for what you believe even when you know it is futile - should you or shouldn't you, when is the right time?

I find myself thinking about the series frequently throughout the day.

It will go on the shelf with the other 2 series from Hobb.

Natural Ordermage - L.E. Modesitt, Jr

For the first time in reading the Saga of Recluce series I find myself wanting to read the series in the chronological order of the books rather than in the order they are published. Natural Ordermage includes excerpts of history books detailing what happened in earlier books in the series - each colored with the politics of the land producing the history. While I remember the books vaguely, my memory does not correspond to the accounts in the histories, so I find myself wanting to go back to those sections of the series and read them in historical order. Of course, whether those sections of the series were written from the point of view of Order or Chaos will color the account.

I particularly like this series because it constantly moves back and forth between the Order or Chaos side of the story - showing that neither side is completely evil, they just look at the world in different ways - and try to control it differently based on those points of view. This is something more people need to try - seeing the world from both sides.

This book will reside in the library - since I have read the rest of the books in the series at least twice through if not more.

Books with baby (3 books or was it 4)

Echo Park by Micheal Connelly - next in the Harry Bosch series I enjoy. I nice read - quick and fun. Finished it at the doctor appointment before going to the hospital.

Forbidden Fruit by Erica Spindler - started this one in the hospital and after 156 pages I still didn't care. It reminded me of a Danielle Steele novel. At 156 pages in, I was just getting the overview of main character number 3 and so I put it down to return to the used book store.

Legal Tender by Lisa Scottoline - Related to the characters in Killer Smile which I wrote about last month - although this one came first. This was a nice, quick read - as is everything I have tried to tackle lately. I look forward to more of these, although I doubt I would re-read them.

See Jane Die by Erica Spindler - leery after the last one, I picked this one up and got sucked in. I even read it in the car - which I haven't been doing because it makes me sick. Of course, it was the part about who the killer was and I only had 3 pages to go. Fun, it kept me guessing as to who the killer was until the end (although I had narrowed it down to 2).

Vanishing Point - Marcia Muller

Another book in the Sharon McCone series that I enjoy. Muller has always provided a fun read - a character that actually grows over the life of the series and yet a nice detective mystery mixed with the personal problems. This was just as expected, quick and fun. I do enjoy this series - although I did start waiting for the paperback.

This will be on the shelf with the rest of the series.

Brenda Novak series (3 books)

I bought this series to support both a local bookstore and a local author, I knew nothing about them at the time. There's a book signing at Book Lovers in October - but I doubt I'll be there.

The Stillwater series is set up like a fantasy or sci-fi series. After resolving the issues of the current book, Novak makes sure to set up the interest for the next book in the series. The entire series (Dead Silence, Dead Giveaway, and Dead Right) centers around keeping a deadly family secret. Most of the series you know what the secret is - it's just a matter of what will make it out in the open and which family member's perspective will be the focus. The interesting thing is thinking about whether it is better for it to stay a secret or not. Each book also touches on the idea of whether they are keeping the secret to help themselves or to help someone else. Are they avoiding their own suffering or shielding someone else from it?

Anyway, they are a quick read - and the author is local - probably lives within 15 mins of me. I'll be passing these on for others to read. I doubt I would re-read them.

Voices Carry - Mariah Stewart

Another day in bed, another book moves from the unread to the read pile. I'm starting to alternate brain candy with something more serious, so after A Perfect Red today is brain candy.

Voices Carry is a book that would have preceded the "Dead..." series and "... Truth" series I read in the last few weeks. It appears that any couple you meet in those series has a book that explains how they got to together. After having read more of this type in the last few weeks, I appreciate that Stewart focuses more on the crime and solving it than the relationship that will happen in the end. It was a nice quick read - but nothing fabulous. It's also not a series I can see myself re-reading. But, it is a nice way to pass the day.

It will get passed on and then probably returned to the used book store it came from.

Reading on bed rest... (10 books)

Finished prior to bed rest...

• The Mermaid Chair - Sue Monk Kidd - ok / fun, probably wouldn't read again
• The End Of The Dream The Golden Boy Who Never Grew Up - Ann Rule - ok, not stellar

Bed rest... (8 books in 4 days?)

• Dead Even / Dead End - Mariah Stewart - end of a series I started a while ago - fun, repeating characters - big cast
• Cold Truth / Hard Truth / Dark Truth / Final Truth - Mariah Stewart - a different series, ties in with the "Dead ..." series from same author - same recurring characters - although I needed to switch authors after this set, I knew the "shocking" turn in the Final Truth book when it started 2 books earlier
  
• Heartbreaker - Julie Garwood - good, fun - page turner
• In Silence - Erica Spindler - fun, easy - got sucked in
  

I'll probably continue with the brain candy reading. I know I have some highly recommended ones on my to read list, but I'm not sure if I want anything that makes me do more than look for the next plot turn / twist.

Dead Certain - Mariah Stewart

Higgy went off to the used book store and picked me up some light reading for my one day travel extravaganza. This is the follow up to Dead Wrong which I read in Hawaii. I was flying to and from Salt Lake City on the same day - I needed something light to keep me entertained even while my mind was working off less than 6 hours sleep. Getting up at 4a is hard, especially, when it feels like 1a because you are still jet lagged from your last trip!

This book fit the bill. It's the continuation of the Strangers on a Train / Throw Momma from the Train storyline from Dead Wrong. Now the second killer is out of jail and out to get his assigned victims. This, of course, has all the fun storylines as the first book. One intended victim finds out they are the target and the rest of the book is spent having them evade the killer and then the predictable love interest aspect. But it was fun and quick - and just enough for my poor tired brain to comprehend.

I'll keep it while I get through the rest of the series - 2 more I think.

Dead Wrong - Mariah Stewart

On the recommendation of the guy at my current favorite used book store, I tried a new author - Mariah Stewart. He said they fit with other authors I read and I would definitely have to agree. While it was a fairly typical detective / serial killer story, it went quickly and I wanted to know what would happen next. The characters, while not extremely complex, were believable and apparently will be returning in Dead Certain. I don't know if Dead Wrong is in the middle of the series or beginning.

A fun book - but I'm not sure if it made it back from Hawaii or not. If it did, I would probably keep it to re-read once I have the other ones with the same characters.

The 6th Target - James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

A quick fun read - took less than 3 hours from start to finish. I like these books because they don't focus solely on one long chase. They actually cover several cases and a variety of characters come in and out of the book. Just one one case is wrapping up, another case might get started or they might go simultaneously for a while. The Women's Murder Club series has moved more and more toward this format over the course of the series and I have enjoyed it more as they have moved away from one large case.

I heard there is going to be a Women's Murder Club TV series in the fall, I hope it doesn't ruin this series.

It'll be on the shelf along with the rest of them - let me know if you want to borrow it.

Fool's Errand - Robin Hobb

In my ongoing book binge, I picked up a book I thought would get me reading back in October. Guess I was wrong. But on the other hand, I did read it in 2 days - keeping me on my average of 4 books a month - not bad considering I didn't start reading until the 22nd. (The first 3 I blogged in May I actually read in April... making April look an abysmal 0 - since the one post was about not reading for a week.)

Anyway, Fool's Errand is the first in the Tawny Man series which is a continuation of the characters from The Farseer Trilogy. I loved the first series, they are one of the few fantasy series to make it through the latest purge. They are fun and still make you think - about what makes you YOU and how the reactions of people around you influence that (or don't). I didn't even realize that Fool's Errand was going to be the same characters, so I was pleasantly surprised to get caught up on what had happened with them in the period since the last series. It was almost 200 pages of set up - rehashing the last 10 years of life away from the castle. It was like seeing an old friend and hearing all the news.

Then the characters went off on adventure, sucking me in and getting me to the end of the book just before midnight. I think I'll be picking up the rest of the series soon. Although, I do still have the great book backlog to get through.

I'll be making a home for it on the shelf.

Brother Odd - Dean R. Koontz

I love Dean Koontz books and this book reminded me why. It was funny and scary, with twists and turns, I found myself racing toward the end. In between, I was pausing to laugh out loud or read a passage to Higgy. It's the return of Odd Thomas - and while I like Koontz's non-series books, I am glad he finally wrote a series. It's nice to have a familiar character to go with all the strange happenings.

It'll go on the shelf after I get it back from Mom (Happy b-day Mom!).

The 5th Horseman - James Patterson

I received this one as a birthday gift a few weeks ago. After the massive (almost 4,000 page) Otherland quartet, I needed some light reading. This one fit the bill. It was a nice combination of mysteries - several all wrapped up into one, which really gave it good pacing and kept it moving. With different parts of the story ending while others ramped up, it kept you from guessing the culprits because who knew it would wrap up so early in the book?

A fun addition to the Women's Murder Club, it'll stay on my shelves with the others.

Otherland: 3 & 4 - Tad Williams

So after being on the edge of my seat for weeks, I finally know how it ends! More characters are introduced in these volumes and battles are won and lost. It was a great read and it has enough different characters and details that I can definitely see myself reading it again.

Otherland: River of Blue Fire

In the second book of the series, the main characters are living their entire lives in the virtual reality world - "Otherland". In this way, Williams brings his fantasy writing to sci-fi. Entire worlds created were making me laugh out loud. One "world" is called "Kitchen" and it is based on those old cartoons where all the characters are household goods - Chief Strike Anywhere is off to save his son "Little Strike" who has been stolen to light a cannon - yes, they are both matches! These worlds made the chase hilarious and scary depending on the world, but a fast paced book. While this volume had a more tidy ending than the first, I can't wait to get to the next one.

Otherland: City of Golden Shadow - Tad Williams

I had read this book before, but never finished the series. I spent the beginning of the book thinking - oh yeah! I remember that and the latter half thinking, how did I forget this? I have enjoyed Williams writing in the past, but this series is one with many heros and many villains. I am not usually a fan of science fiction, preferring fantasy, but I am able to get around the futuristic nature of it and feel connected to the characters. In this world, virtual reality has taken over much of the entertainment - and many lives. But something is happening to the children. They are falling into a coma - with no known cause and none recover. In the first book we are introduced to the main characters - Renie and !Xabbu being the main two. As the book was coming to a close, I wondered how Williams would wrap up the ending to lead to Volume 2. Turns out he doesn't! The end of the book is like the end of a chapter - no neat closing to tide you over until the next book. Luckily, I already have it.

This book is staying on the shelf until I complete the series and make a decision.