Real worlds, and reading more

Wasn't there a song once about "Time keeps slipping away." I may have remembered it wrong, but it runs around in my head as I try to catch up with a backlog of posting book reviews. I have been reading while building furniture, racing around stores, succumbing to a stomach bug, and editing Jerusalem Journey. But the product of my reading resided in unposted reviews on my computer, so... my apologies to anyone whose book review is too far overdue. I will try to catch up!

Starting today with real-world terrorism, small-world journalism, broken-world politics, and a small town in Utah where a native American teen wants to grow up into the warrior his grandfather promised.  War Party, by J. Drew Brumbaugh, creates a very real threat and smoothly blends interesecting story arcs. Well-balanced between multiple cultures, it's one to enjoy with a well-balanced smooth 3-star coffee.

You'll want a five-star darker brew for Second Wind's second Rubicon Ranch novel, Necropieces. The scene is desert dust and richly appointed California houses. But the murder is most assuredly gruesome as this author team comes together again to create something seamlessly fascinating, with the question of whodunnit yielding blood-red herrings at every chapter. Great fun. Enjoy.

Beautiful scenery and dangerous threats populate Terry Odell's When Danger Calls too. This one's set in Colorado, where a well-trained danger-seeker is hiding his wounds and a secretive school-teacher is hiding her night job. Great dialog, fun romance, and exciting action adventure, all smoothly written, enjoy with a smooth, well-balanced 3-star coffee.

Burn in Hell, by Marian Lanouette, is set in a world of gambling, casinos, and places to escape. When casual relationships turn serious, and casual crime turns deadly, the drama's intense and tragedy looms every closer. Billed as a Jake Carrington mystery, this seemed more of a romantic suspense to me, but it's a good read; enjoy with a dark intense 5-star coffee for the gathering gloom.

All these books, except possible the first) are parts of series. This next one is first in a historical series, and gives an interesting insight into the world of the American South during the Civil War. Interesting characters, complex relationships, and an honest willingness to see the good and bad in people characterize Sun's Parting Ray, by Mishael Austin Witty, a tale of a widow's growing relationship with a married man, her failing relationship with her father, and her tense relationship with faith and God. Enjoy this one with a well-balanced smooth 3-star coffee.

Finally, for something completely different... I said I was editing Jerusalem Journey; well, one of the books I'm finding invaluable as I look for Bible backgrounds, explore traditions, and seek out new details to include in my stories is The Catholic Bible Dictionary. I got it from Blogging for Books and I'm very grateful to them, and I really like it. Have some elegant complex 4-star coffees to hand as you do your own research.


Comments

Jean Harkin said…
Hi Sheila-- From Catholic Bible to "Burn in Hell." Your reading choices couldn't be more varied! Hope you're over your stomach bug!
Sheila Deeth said…
Thank you, yes. I think I'm over it. And I'm reading again of course. Variety is the spice of life, or something

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