What Else I Read and Listened to in February, 2014

I haven't done a post like this for quite awhile.  I found that I listened and read quite a few books this month that were worth mentioning but that I did not have time or space to review so I decided bring this feature back.

Audio Books:

Death of a Prankster (A Hamish MacBeth Mystery) by M. C. Beaton - I like the Hamish MacBeth mysteries.  Unlike the Agatha Raisin series by the same author which I read in order, Hamish as been hit and miss.  This one was interesting.  My only problem was the narrator.  I didn't like his voice but the story was enjoyable.  It was fun to see Hamish get the better of Blair again.

Abaddon's Gate (Book 3 of the Expanse) by James S. A. Corey - I read book one skipped book two and listed to book three.  I won't go back to read two as there was enough back story to keep me up to date.  I liked the story, was not wild about the writing.  Every action had to have a description and some just added to length not story.  Even so I will look for book 4.  Lots of loose ends. (Science Fiction)

Friends in High Places (A Commissario Guido Brunette Mystery #9) by Donna Leon - This is an early book in the series.  I have not read or listened to the books in order but I still enjoy going back and picking up on I missed.  

Ghost of a Dream (Ghost Finders #3) by Simon R. Green - This is another series where I listen to book one, skipped book 2 and went on the book three.  The series is fun.  I like the characters.  The action is sometimes a little silly but in an enjoyable way.

Books:


Redemption (Soul #1)  by C. J. Barry - I have really enjoyed books by C. J. Barry so I purchased Redemption as an ebook when it first came out.  It has been sitting in my TBR pile every since.  I enjoyed the story.  It is different from other Barry books.  It is a paranormal with great characters and really complex world building.  I was surprised to see it is book one in a new series.


Tin Cat by Misa Buckley - Tin Cat was one of the winner in this years SFR Galaxy Awards.  I read the description and immediately purchased and read.  It is a cute story that has an unusual main character.  She is in a wheelchair and the man in the story does not let that bother him. A nice romance with a lot of danger thrown in.

The Devil's Heart: The Chattan Curse by Cathy Maxwell - This is book three in the series.  I read books one and two when they first came out but somehow never got book three.  Then it came out as a 1.99 special so I picked it up.  It is a great ending to the series. The two main characters are made for each other they just have to get over the last names.  There is a lot of the supernatural to the story.  They do get rid of the curse and have an HEA but it is a close thing.

Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts - I had not read a Nora Roberts book in several year when I came across Whiskey Beach on the new books shelf at my public library.  I started the book and could not put it down.  It is a great romance mixed with a very unusual mystery.  I think both romance and mystery lovers will love the book.

Etiquette and Espionage and Curtsies and Conspiracies by Gail Carriger - I read both book one and two is this YA series.  Set in the same world as The Parasol Protectorate series this is the story of Sophronia and friends at a finishing academy that is not what you would expect.  

 You can look for a lot action and danger.  While it is the same world as The Parasol Protectorate it is set before those books.  Some of the characters are the same but at an earlier time.  I liked the books and am looking forward to the next one in the series.  I do recommend that you read them in order.  There is a lot of world and character building in book one that is not repeated in book two.


Star Pirates Justice by S. E. Gilchrist - I love Science Fiction Romance and when Star Pirate’s Justice was recommended to me I immediately picked it up.  I did not realize it was book two until I started reading.  While the story is full of action, adventure, and romance there is a lot of character building and back story that happened in book one.  While there are hints from the previous book scattered through Star Pirate’s Justice I often found that I was lost and that affected how I reacted to the characters and the story.

Carly and Volkar are both good characters but I never warmed to either.  Some of the action left me the same way.  I just could not see the big picture so tension in what Carly and Volkar were doing was not there for me.  Since it is part of a series it also just ends with a lot left unfinished.

I strongly recommend that anyone read book one before starting Star Pirate’s Justice.  Having said all of that it does look like it would be a very good series if started from book one.


An Unlikely Match by Barbara Dunlop - This was a really fun book to read.  Morgan Holbrook and Amelia Camden seem to be polar opposites but guess what.  When the senior citizens in Florida put their hand to match making it turns out they are made for each other.  The only problem is getting them both in the same city and close to each other.  Along with being fun it was a quick easy read.  The first book in the Match series after finished I wanted to find the other books.  It was free on Amazon.  Download if it still is.

Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer - I started this series with Cinder, the Scarlet and expected to finish with Cress.  That was not to be.  There is a fourth and I hope final book titled Winter.  

The story line in Cress introduces Cress and has all of the important characters headed for the same place.  They do face problems and danger before they arrive.  That is when the book ends so don't look for any solutions.  I liked the book but did think it could have been edited down some.  Since I am not a YA and am long past teenage years and teenage romances I did find some of the longing a little tedious.  None of this will keep me from looking forward and reading Winter when it comes out.


Molly Harper by Emelle Gamble - I received a FREE copy of Molly Harper in exchange for my honest review.

In fact I received the copy around noon on a Saturday.  I am recovering from knee surgery and had just over done on the knee.  I needed a book that would keep my attention and keep me off of my feet for the afternoon.  Molly Harper was perfect.  I was drawn into the story from the first page.  While the novel has romantic elements the main story is about three very different women and how their lives are connected by something 35 years in the past.  I loved all three.  Anne Sullivan is strong and trying to start a new life after losing her husband.  Molly Harper is a movie star whose public life is unraveling and secrets from her past are changing her private life.  Norma Wintz has kept a secret for 35 years and now that secret has to be told.  I loved how the story progressed.  As I read each woman’s story I became more and more invested in the book and my knee got a much-needed rest.  I think Molly Harper is a book that most women would enjoy.   One problem to watch – Molly Harper is also a popular author’s name so when you go to find the book don’t look under the title - look under the author’s name.

Organized for Murder by Ritter Ames - Every cozy mystery needs at focal point.  In Organized for Murder the focal is Kate McKenzie’s business – helping people organize their homes. All of the elements for a cozy mystery are here.  Kate is the main character.  Meg is the best friend and sidekick.  Both have husbands who appear but are really just side characters.  Add in a few town people and the main characters in the Nethercutt family and you have the set up for the murder and the mystery.

Organized for Murder is the first book in the series so quite a few things have to be introduced.  Kate’s background, the town, the characters are all woven into the story line in a way the supports the story.  I found Organized for Murder to be a fun read.  The plot kept my attention and kept me guessing right until the end.  In addition I liked the characters, the setting (Vermont) and the writing.   Pick up Organized for Murder for a fun afternoon or reading.

I received a copy of Organized for Murder from the author in return for a honest review.