Review: Her Scandalous Wish

Her Scandalous Wish by Collette Cameron
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pretty decent historical romance. Strong, but still insecure on the inside, female. Strong, yet soft on the inside, male. Separated by circumstance and misunderstanding. Brought back together and we get the HEA we all want.

Not the best written book ever, but still my marshmallow insides enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the hero and his aunt. 3 stars.

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Review: Snowed Inn

Snowed Inn by Kate Palmer
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is a dumb one, but I knew it would be going into it. Contemporary romance is just not my thing.


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Review: Bolt

Bolt by Dick Francis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Dick Francis rarely came back to the same characters besides my main man, Sid Halley, but I do get to go another round with Kit Fielding. He's a good chap, too.

Kit is still a champion jockey. His love life is up in the air, and we have danger both on and off the course. Kit is riding for the Princess, and her horses are being killed in. I can hardly stand it. Kit is bound and determined to stop the killer, as you would expect. He is brave, and smart, and has so much common sense that I am a bit in love with him myself. Danielle, run, don't walk, to the altar with this man.

Some great surprises in this one and all of the great details you expect from my main man DF. 3.5 stars but rounding down because I have to choose one or the other.

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Review: Changes

Changes by Jim Butcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, well, well, Jim Butcher. I would say I'm angry, but I totally saw it coming. The only thing that surprised me is that it took 12 books to get here.

I can't say much if you haven't read it yet, so do me favor and get caught up, ok? Because I totally want to talk about this book and I don't want to spoil you. Suffice to say, my favorites were all here: Mouse, Mister, Thomas, Murph, Ezekiel, Molly, and Sanya. We even get a tiny bit of Ivy and Kincaid, although I always want more of them. What we also get is Susan, who is my least favorite character. Sorry, Susan, but you totally suck. And just when I thought I couldn't hate on you more, this book comes along. You really are the worst.

Anyway, Harry is brave, reckless, bold, and dangerous. He make a whole lot of bad decisions, is a total smart-ass, as usual, gets his ass kicked, and saves the day. What you have come to expect from Dresden, in spades.

P.S. Thanks for the sucker punch, Butcher. You had better have a damn good plan to write your way out of this in book 13. And don't leave me hanging about Mister, either.

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Review: A Thief of Time

A Thief of Time by Tony Hillerman
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

More Leaphorn. More Chee. A partnership made in heaven? Well, I guess we will see.

In book 8 we FINALLY get the boys together on a more permanent basis. It's going to be good. Leaphorn is in mourning at the loss of Emma and wants to retire, but the job just keeps pulling him back in. Chee is still wet behind the ears, idealistic, and his own man. We are chasing illegal pot hunters (as in pottery, not the plant) and murders abound.

Hoping the "full moon" plot thread doesn't get dumped in the next book. Curious to see what happens there. A good mystery, as always. 3 stars.

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Review: Smokescreen

Smokescreen by Dick Francis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

South Africa. Horse racing. Gold mines. Dick Francis, you never disappoint me.

We get a great everyman hero in Edward Lincoln. Super movie star, but he is also a super nice guy. Very grounded for all of his fame. He is asked to go to South Africa to look into some horses, so he does, and gets himself into perilous situations, nearly dies, and saves the day in the end.

Love the setting for this one, the interesting facts about mining, and the movie set slice of life. Dick Francis, you were a master of mystery and I am sad I will never get to meet you.

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Review: Trophy Hunt

Trophy Hunt by C.J. Box
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Back to spend a little time with my second-favorite Wyoming lawman, Joe Pickett. Joe continues to be Joe, standing up for both man and beast. This time, we have a string of terrible animal mutilations. It's bad. And it's escalating. Joe is on the case, naturally, and the race is on to solve it while keeping everyone safe.

We've got land deals, and big game, and intrigue. And Marybeth, who every time I start to tolerate her says or does something annoying to make me mad. And I didn't suspect the ending until it crept up and stared me in the face. On to the next! 3 stars.

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Review: The Cat Who Lived High

The Cat Who Lived High by Lilian Jackson Braun
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Qwill and the kitties head back down below. Back to the big, crime-ridden city to save a historic hotel Junktown. That pesky, sexy mustache keeps him in high demand with the ladies, as usual, but could it be that Qwill is finally ready to settle down? Polly is too good for him. The cats are too good for him. But the mystery was ok and I was surprised to see how it all played out.

Qwill remains a pompus ass, but I love this series regardless. Glad we will be back in home for the next book. 3 stars.

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Review: Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore

Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew J. Sullivan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Unsure how to feel about this one. I liked it, loved it in parts, and hated it in others. Also, I thought it was going to be a mystery set in a bookstore, but it really wasn't. False advertising, book!

The characters are oddly unlikeable. I wanted to feel for all of them, but could only muster up the curiousity to keep reading through the mystery. I felt the worst for the MC's best friend in the end. Poor girl.

Lots of bad decisions happening here from beginning to end, and no one to blame but the characters themselves. I know I sound like I hated this book, but I swear I didn't. Three stars. Read it and let me know what you think.

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Review: Plum Island

Plum Island by Nelson DeMille
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Starting another read-through of my favorite smart-ass investigator, John Corey. A man who would be so fun to hang out with on the back porch and drink a beer. Maybe grab some dinner, or whatever. A real stand-up guy. However, not convinced he could be long-term love interest for me. Smart, though, headstrong and brave. Rushes into danger without a second thought.

John, as we meet him, is currently convelescing at his uncle's vacation home in New York, away from the bustle of the city. Johnny boy got shot in a pretty life threatening way by some drug dealers, and the NYPD sent him away to heal up while his partner tries to track them down. You might think that would be what this book is about, but the joke is on you. John has made some friends who are scientists on spooky Plum Island, where biowarefare and vaccines are made to protect and save the world. They end up getting themselves murdered, and John Corey can't back down from the case.

If you like smart-ass detectives who skirt the rules, you should take John Corey on a date. 4 stars.

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Review: Death of a Greedy Woman

Death of a Greedy Woman by M.C. Beaton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hamish, you did it again. You might be lazy, but you are certainly smart and clever. Priscilla is a fool.

This book changed titles. It was originally Death of Glutton, but was switched to Greedy Woman. Why? Not sure. Maybe for the American audience? Either way, the title is apt. She was a glutton, she was greedy, and wholly unlikeable. M.C. Beaton draws very polarizing characters. And she dies, as the title might lead you to believe. Not to worry, folks, because our man Hamish is on the case, and he will puzzle it out, then head home to the station and relax. Because that is what he does best.

Fun series. Obviously if you aren't reading it yet, you need to start with book 1. 3 stars.

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