Murder on the Old Bog Road: The Galway Homicides Book #1 --by David Pearson

  

Fiction / Crime Drama (Ireland)

171 pages / 3328 KB

5 stars

 

A delightful murder mystery. Ireland is one of the lands on my bucket list that I want to visit. I loved the old movie, Ryan’s Daughter, and I loved this book. It’s the first of 10 in the series, and I look forward to reading more.

 

I found quite a bit of unintended humor—several words mean one thing in British English than in American English. A jumper over there is a sweater over here. 

 

A young woman drives a narrow road during a nasty storm to visit her mother. There are rocks on the road. She stops. Moves the rocks, and sees the body of a woman in the ditch, dead. Later, she discovers she knew the unidentified woman, went to college with her, and they had a row. Is she a suspect? Is the wealthy boyfriend? Her brother visiting from Poland? There is no limit on the suspects, and though I wasn’t shocked at the outcome, I found it quite satisfactory. 

 

Great fun to read a police procedural with no blazing gunfights, no dangerous car chases through city streets, and a bare use of foul language (there is some, but it fits the story).

 

I look forward to the next books, and sharing a pint with the Garda as they tell me how they caught the perp. Although, I’m not sure when I go to Ireland I want to visit Galway—they seem to have a lot of murders there ;-). (Perhaps Galway is the Irish equivalent to Midsomer, England?)

A Cat's Guide to Bonding with Dragons --by Chris Behrsin

 Fiction / Humor / Fantasy / Teen/YA

224 pages / 2737 KB

5 Stars

 

Ben is a very happy, spoiled, and well-fed cat living in the south of Wales—until he’s not. Between one bite and the next, he’s transported to another world, and is in the clutches of an evil mage. In the matter of seconds, Ben went from being loved, spoiled, and happy to being confused, hungry, and running for his life! The mage doesn’t like him, he has to catch foul tasting rats to eat, and then he escapes.

 

Somehow, he manages to find a castle where there are people, but they don’t understand him, and don’t think he’s, well, the cat’s meow (no apologies on that one), and don’t feed him. Until he meets and bonds with a dragon.

 

As a dragon-rider in training, he and his dragon must work to be accepted and to join the league of fighters to fight and eliminate the evil mages of this world. 

 

If you’re looking for a fun read, no sex, no foul language, limited violence, and a lot of humor, give this a try. Great fun.

Taro --by Blue Spruell

 Fiction / Japanese Legends retold

253 pages / 10445 KB

5 Stars

 

This is a fun re-imagining of Taro, the legendary hero of Japan. Spruell takes three stories of Taro, and weaves them into one engrossing tale. Some of the people are real, some are not, the magic is delightful. If you know nothing of Japanese history, or legends, this book will be a fun introduction (just don’t take it as gospel).

 

I was surprised at how well the marvelous illustrations by Miya Outlaw showed up on my phone! (Yes, I tend to read books on my phone.) They added a great deal to an otherwise totally engaging story. (Can something be more than total?)

 

A martial arts book, a delightful story, a one-sit read. Well done!!

A Raga for George Harrison --by Sharmagne Leland-St. John

 Nonfiction / Poetry

94 pages

5 Stars

 

This book of poetry is a world travelogue. Leland-St. John takes us from Hawai’i to California to England, and places in between. She gives us History in new forms, and humor to laugh out loud. She gives us love and loss and courage to love again. She shows us there is beauty in loss, beauty in living. 

Mouse of Cards (Magic Market Mysteries Book 4) --by Erin Johnson

Fiction / urban fantasy

2072 KB

5 Stars

 

This is the 3d book in the series, including the prequel, I’ve read. They are fun little stories. Just what the doctor ordered for cold, gray, January days. Ms. Johnson’s universe is great fun, and within the bounds of her setting, believable. 

 

I had no problem reading this book out of sequence, which is goodness to my way of thinking.

 

We need fun in our lives, and if it comes tasting like a decadent dessert, but has no calories, so much the better! 

Apples Rot on the Ground --by Kate Padilla

Nonfiction / Poetry

30 pages

5 Stars

 

This is a small collection, in the size known as ‘Chapbook.’ It is small but crammed full of big poems! Padilla opens with a sestina which may bring a tear, but will also bring a loud cheer at the end! At least I cheered after reading , “…She stretched a long / rope and baited the beast, yelled…/..She was not her mother, afraid.”

 

Her poems are pure unadulterated emotion, they are history—history of New Mexico and history of family. Not all are sad, Rustler made me hungry—and smile, Forbidden Friend called to mind portions of my childhood. A Santo Protects My Mother made me cry that I hadn’t thought of that. Taos Harvest, the last poem, another brilliant sestina, made me sob. 

 

These poems are like a perfectly cooked and seasoned steak that has enough texture to make you know it’s beef, and flavor to die for. This is a small book, large poems, to be read and reread—often.

A Tale of Two Reapers --by Jack Wallen

 Fiction: Urban Fantasy

292 pages / 3579 KB

5 stars

 

Every year I give me a new book from me. That way I know I’ll get at least one new book I will enjoy. This year’s Christmas present from me to me was A Tale of Two Reapers. I could not have picked a better book to curl up with on the sofa and read, cover to cover. I love a good urban fantasy that makes me laugh out loud several times through the book. On most pages, actually.

WARNING: This is a one-sit read! Hire a babysitter and check into your nearest motel. Splurge on room service. You'll be glad you took this advice. Honest. Trust me.

 

I felt like I was an old friend and Grim was telling me his story. I absolutely loved the style of writing, very relaxed, very humorous, and obviously, Mr. Wallen is a very disciplined writer. I look forward to reading other books by him.

 

The characters were well developed, thought out, and fun. The kind of people I’d enjoy calling ‘Friend’. I especially liked how Grim treated his young friend, Jonesy. That was an unexpected and most delightful bit to enjoy. Grim is 500 years old or so, so everyone is younger than he is. He deals in death all day, every day. His one and only job is to harvest souls of the good, the bad, and the awful. He has a young friend, Jonesy who is other-abled, and Grim treats him as a friend, a fully realized adult. He enjoys the company of Jonesy, and it shows. I dare say most of us could learn from their interchanges.

 

I suppose for some, death is a dark and all but taboo subject, but really, it’s just part of the Circle of Life. And this was such a delightful way to handle it.  I eagerly await buying and reading books 2 and 3. (Am saving them for my birthday ;-)