Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading?

[WT Sharpe]

Enjoying Chocolat by Joanne Harris, in which a witch opens a chocolate shop across the street from the pompous and pretentious parish priest, who is a thorn in her side. I haven't seen the movie.

[ATDrake]

Finished another batch of books, mostly to see if I wanted to pick up any more Samhain series before they shut down.

Canadian nature/science writer James Raffan's Circling the Midnight Sun: Culture and Change in the Invisible Arctic was not one of them, but a nice library read about the mostly-indigenous groups of the far north around the world and how they were coping with habitat and culture loss as well as climate change, in a circumpolar trip from Iceland to Scandinavia to Russia to Alaska, back to Canada, and a detour to Greenland. This focused more on the people than their environment (apparently Raffan has already written books about the latter), and was an interesting and poignant look at their past history (unsurprisingly, the Nordic nations and Russia have also had residential-type schools for eradicating their natives' culture in the name of civilization and progress) and current prospects.

Overall, a good read if you're interested in such, and it is pretty hopeful. And I must say that I admire the entrepreneurial spirit of the Nenets reindeer herder in Russia who was also the local Amway salesperson (apparently they make a liquid cleanser product which is not only handy for nomadic life, it also works a treat for curing reindeer hides), who pressed the author with his salesperson number, telling him that if he ever needed Amway products, he could use the herder's number when filling out the order forms, and even from Canada, that would help his family.

Then I went and read Hailey Edwards' A Hint of Frost, which was the 1st in her Araneae Nation series of fantasy romance with strong political intrigue elements, and currently a repeat freebie. This had more interesting worldbuilding than I was expecting, with feuding clans based on spider-magic (venemous bites, ability to extrude and spin silk, etc.), and the author put up a compendium and pronunciation guide on her website, which I always appreciate. I was mildly impressed that she actually went and made the hero come from a cannibalistic clan that ate their enemies after battle, though of course being the hero he's not really like the rest of them and disapproves of flesh-hunger outside of a few nibbles to fulfill the traditional rituals.

While these are primarily get-together stories for the couples, the background and cultural differences between the clans (some warriors, some artisans, some agricultural, and in an interlocking web of marriage alliances buying protection for the less defensible clans from the more aggressive ones) were fairly well fleshed-out, and there's an overarching plot about a mysterious plague.

In some places the story felt like it was serving as contrivance for the romance (which IMHO as a no romo reader, felt somewhat superficial, with the clan heiress heroine worrying more about her sudden physical attraction and jealous reactions and desire to know the deep dark secrets of a mate who was foisted upon her by a quickie deal, rather than say, figuring out spheres of competency and worldview compatibility and who ends up being the deciding authority in their mutual shared responsibilities) more than being unfolded as actual plot. But thankfully those places were relatively few and the action/adventure bits were reasonably solid.

The author has given away two extra self-published short stories free for years now (and as a nicety, got the artist of the Samhain-published novels to provide matching covers for them) and it turns out I already have a few of the later novels from some past deep-discount sale, so I'm willing to splurge and spend a few bucks to complete the series and find out how the plague uberplot gets dealt with, as well as see more of the world.

Then I read Lou Harper's Secrets and Ink, an m/m romantic suspense with murder mystery elements set in Hollywood, which was a previous freebie giveaway via the now-defunct AllRomance eBooks. Apparently the later books in the series have paranormal elements, if the product page tags about psychics and ghosts are to be believed. This one only had a minor magical realism in the form of the protagonist believing himself to be cursed by a DMV employee (as they do), and having paid to have its existence confirmed by a witch.

The story was okay, with personal tensions between the protagonist who embarks upon a relationship with a cop who once busted him for underage soliciting, and finds himself the target of maybe-blackmail pictures about his embarrassing past, which of course escalates to a mysterious murder. Again, this was a little on the romantic contrivance side, with some situations feeling like they were more set up to enable an angsty emotional moment for the budding couple, and the resolution seemed a little rushed and pat. But overall, the plot hung together (and some mild planted clues did come back and play a part, even if there was less of an investigative element and more of a waiting for the killer to strike next), and the story and narrator voice were decent enough that I'll probably pick up the remaining 2 books in the series which feature different couples (it turns out I already have #2 from some other previous giveaway or sale) if I like their sample chapters.

Best out of context quote:

I could’ve been a serial killer. Or a Jehovah’s Witness.

Also read JL Merrow's Pressure Head, which may have been another freebie or deep-discount offering, and 1st in their Plumber's Mate mystery with m/m romantic elements series starring a psychically-gifted plumber with a talent for finding things via divination. This one was actually surprisingly good, and I found myself liking it a lot after a somewhat slow start getting used to the narrator's slangy British voice, and went and bought the rest of the series, along with some of the author's other interesting-looking historical/mysteries and might go back and splurge on their paranormal stuff.

Like the Harper book, it has a semi-antagonistic reunion-turned-romance between two people after a span of years, but the other party was the high school bully who made the narrator's life hell and is now the P. I. who wants to use the narrator's abilities to help solve the case, and there's considerably more working past old wounds and trust issues, in between conducting the investigation. And there was a significant investigation, with legwork and questioning and trying to piece together clues. While the resolution wasn't entirely free of melodrama, the plot and whodunnit hung together well enough and I'm interested in seeing how they'll handle future cases together as they establish both a sleuthing and a romantic relationship, while maintaining the plumbing business to pay the bills.

And finally, had a look at KJ Charles' A Case of Spirits, a short story which is currently still free, in their A Charm of Magpies series of Victorian urban fantasy paranormal investigatives with m/m romantic elements, since I've seen the series recommended a number of times. This was an okay case file about a magical incident which was less about figuring out what was going on and why, and more about simply tracking down the culprit through various means. I'd have liked a bit more investigative footwork, but it's a short story and was promising enough that I picked up the rest of the series.

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Now, Powell's writing seems quite alive and I am quite interested in the ongoing fates and foibles of the characters.

And you're sure it isn't just the cold medicine?

[Rev. Bob]

I've been depressed for the past little while and not making much progress, but the second "Big Sigma" book is cheering me up some. The series is basically light space opera with a decent helping of comedy, which is tonally just what I need at present. (Still need to figure out how to make the page counts come out right on Goodreads, though.)

Depending on mood, I'll probably truck on to book three in the series next, and then pick up with the omnibus-only short fiction. Not sure about after that, though.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by Rev. Bob

I've been depressed for the past little while and not making much progress, but the second "Big Sigma" book is cheering me up some. The series is basically light space opera with a decent helping of comedy, which is tonally just what I need at present. (Still need to figure out how to make the page counts come out right on Goodreads, though.)

Depending on mood, I'll probably truck on to book three in the series next, and then pick up with the omnibus-only short fiction. Not sure about after that, though.

And for those that are interested, book one is free.
Bypass Gemini.
https://www.amazon.com/Bypass-Gemini.../dp/B004Z99U3K
Apache

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

And you're sure it isn't just the cold medicine?

Swilling pints of Dayquil leads to fascination with British social classes misbehaving?

Or is it the Guinness?

[issybird]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

You get mesmerized by the inevitable, yet unexpected, reappearances of the odious Widmerpool in each book.

And yet.... He is odious, and obtuse, and smug, but you (or at least I) have to feel a little sorry for someone who is so innately repellant. I first read the sequence decades ago and to be honest, not much had stayed with me when I picked it up again except for the appalling incident of the sugar bowl. How does anyone come back from that?

I'm glad you mentioned this; I got through the first five books on my reread before I got sidetracked and I want to return to it.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Sea Lord by Bernard Cornwell. Another recent purchase.

An enjoyable 'contemporary' (1989) mystery/adventure/romance. It was reminiscent of a Dick Francis novel, but with boats instead of horses!


Next up: The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner. I've heard adaptions of this, but I think the book will be better. A purchase from December 2015.

[JSWolf]

I've finished reading Star Trek: TNG: Headlong Flight by Dayton Ward and it was very good. Highly recommended.


Now onto Echoes in Death by J. D. Robb. This is #44 in the In Death series.

As NY Lt. Eve Dallas and her billionaire husband Roarke are driving home, a young woman—dazed, naked, and bloody—suddenly stumbles out in front of their car. Roarke slams on the brakes and Eve springs into action.

Daphne Strazza is rushed to the ER, but it’s too late for her husband Dr. Anthony Strazza. A brilliant orthopedic surgeon, he now lies dead amid the wreckage of his obsessively organized town house, his three safes opened and emptied. Daphne would be a valuable witness, but in her terror and shock the only description of the perp she can offer is repeatedly calling him “the devil”...

While it emerges that Dr. Strazza was cold, controlling, and widely disliked, this is one case where the evidence doesn’t point to the spouse. So Eve and her team must get started on the legwork, interviewing everyone from dinner-party guests to professional colleagues to caterers, in a desperate race to answer some crucial questions:

What does the devil look like? And where will he show up next?

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by issybird

And yet.... He is odious, and obtuse, and smug, but you (or at least I) have to feel a little sorry for someone who is so innately repellant. I first read the sequence decades ago and to be honest, not much had stayed with me when I picked it up again except for the appalling incident of the sugar bowl. How does anyone come back from that?

I'm glad you mentioned this; I got through the first five books on my reread before I got sidetracked and I want to return to it.

By marrying a woman old enough to be his mother?

[drjd]

Originally Posted by drjd

Now I'll start reading The Elegant Universe, a non fiction book of physics by Brian Green, for a change of taste.

Finished The Elegant Universe by Brian Green. It was imperative for me to change the pace of my mind after continuously reading a long chain of crime and mystery books during last couple of months. It was a good change.

Now I have started reading Living in Italy: The Real Deal by Stef Smulders, offered as free book in the Self-Promotions by Authors and Publishers thread. I have read the first few pages of the book and found it quite interesting and humorous.

[kansaskyle]

Finished Quicksilver, which I rated as a three-star read. After finishing the novel, I found a review that I'll paraphrase --

If you enjoyed Moby Dick, this is a great novel! If you found Moby Dick to drag on and on with all you ever wanted to know about the whaling industry then this novel probably isn't for you.

I wish I had seen this before I started the 900 or so page book. The author sprinkled in some dry-humor and great detail on all kinds of experiments the Royal Society conducted in the 1600's. I eventually found all the side bars a bit tedious as I am not into mathematics, alchemy, biology, astronomy, etc.

I am starting One Hour After.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by drjd

Finished The Elegant Universe by Brian Green. It was imperative for me to change the pace of my mind after continuously reading a long chain of crime and mystery books during last couple of months. It was a good change.

Now I have started reading Living in Italy: The Real Deal by Stef Smulders, offered as free book in the Self-Promotions by Authors and Publishers thread. I have read the first few pages of the book and found it quite interesting and humorous.

I see we are reading the same book. It gets more interesting.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Now starting The Iron Ghost: the second in Jen Williams' "Copper Cat" series.

Definitely fun books, but something about the endings always keep me from being able to grant a four-star rating. Much about this one was better than the first book in my opinion, but it tailed off toward the end. Big, wild endings, yes, but vaguely unsatisfying.

Still recommended for traditional fantasy fans.

[drjd]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I see we are reading the same book. It gets more interesting.

It's a pleasant coincidence.

I've read a few chapters of the book now, and it is becoming more and more engrossing. I must appreciate the writing style of the author, being his first book probably, he is carrying out the book in a well organized and humorous manner.