VBT December 1st Book Tour

I'm so excite to be part of VBT December 1st Book Tour.

Tour with new and famous authors – books, tips, and more.

Mystery Site Giveaway!



http://tinyurl.com/yh9vry6

What's been happening

Just thought I would take a moment to share. I've been on a writing hiatus for
the pass couple of months. End of summer overwhelm, one can take only so much
kids running through the house screaming with glee before one goes into the "I
can't wait until school starts" dementia. School started and then I had Carpal
Tunnel surgery, and weeks of no computer. I am trying to slowly pick up the
pieces, get motivated and back into routine.

I am starting a class for my publisher on how to plan and run a Virtual Book
Tour and will make an attempt at NANOWRIMO. You know write a novel in 30 days.

Plus the holidays. I went online yesterday and bought books for everyone on my
shopping list. So I can relax. Everyone will have at least 1 present.

Linda Suzane
http://journeybestseller.blogspot.com
http://darkhourvampires.wordpress.com

I like reading and writing reviews, but lately it has been taking up a lot of my writing time. So I decided to take a brake and focus just on my writing. I'll be back August 24th.

UPDATE AUGUST 25th

I am scheduled for Carpal Tunnel surgery in September, and won't be able to use my hand for several weeks. So I'll be back after October 10th.

Gold Digger

By Vicki Delany

Enjoy history? Like a mystery? Gold Digger is an absolutely delightful historical
mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time back in 1898, the Yukon Territory, in the rip roaring mining town of Dawson. A native born Californian, I was raised on stories of the 1849 Gold Rush and the founding of San Francisco, so reading about the last great Gold Rush had a lot of familiarity but the great Canada wilderness was an unique setting. Vicki Delany has made the town of Dawson and its inhabitants come alive with a vivid realism of a great historical, without making one feel like they are reading a travelogue or passages quoted from a dry history tome.

The story’s heroine, Fiona MacGillivray, is a woman of great courage and strength of will in a time when most women were thought of as no more than chattel. She owns a saloon, the Savoy, named after the fashionable London hotel. She is a woman of class and breeding, in a place where even a saloon owner can be considered respectable, if she acts as such. She has a 12 year old son Agnus, a smart inquisitive lad who hero worships the local Mountie, Constable Sterling, and wants to become a Mountie himself.

After surviving the arduous journey to get to the Klondike and the near starvation of the first winter, summer is extraordinary beautiful, with fields of glorious wild flowers, warm days, sapphire blue sky. Life is good in Dawson, the Savoy’s business is booming, until Jack Ireland arrives. A newspaper reporter from San Francisco, he immediately makes enemies and within 3 days is found dead, throat cut, on the stage of the Savoy. Was it the rival newspaper man? Or Fiona’s lead singer, Irene, whom Jack physically abused? Or Fiona’s partner, jealously protective of Irene? Or the good woman that Jack called a prostitute in his first story sent back to San Francisco? Or Fiona herself, whom Jack threatened to destroy for standing up for Irene and defending herself? Or someone else?

Not a particularly complex mystery, it is still satisfying all the way around. It works because of the well drawn characters and setting handled with a careful attention to detail.

In my opinion, Gold Digger really strikes gold!

I understand it is the start of a new series, and I look forward to once again visiting Dawson and its interesting and colorful inhabitants.

Gold Digger
By Vicki Delany
RendezVous Crime
an imprint of Napoleon & Company
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
www.napoleonandcompany.com
Perfect Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Napoleon & Company (May 8, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1894917804
ISBN-13: 978-1894917803

Androgynous Murder House Party

By Steven Rigolosi
Tales From the Back Page #3

You will either love or loath Robin Anders, the narrator of the story. A self absorbed New Yorker, an upper crust snob, well heeled and pampered, eccentric and out spoken. Whose overblown narrative will either entertain you immensely or drive you crazy.

I admit more to the “drive-you-crazy” side of the coin, especially when Robin absolutely refuses to see the series of bizarre accidents during a weekend house party as murder attempts. But no one could possibly attack such a beloved and saint-like personage as Robin.

After returning to New York, one of the house guests, Lee, a long time ex-lover and bitter rival, dies and Robin sets out to investigate the situation and recover a tortoise shell hairbrush that was the only thing that Lee bequeathed Robin in the will. But strange things keep happening.

For example as Robin waits to meet a friend on the Observation Deck of the Empire State Building

“And it was here that my sixth sense–that oracular ability that has sometimes descended upon me when I least expect it–kicked into overdrive. The air got thick and time froze as I sensed imminent danger. My adrenaline surged as I watched a tall masked personage pushing through the crowd toward me and Alex. Nothing about the scenario felt right; my very pores were tingling with dread. And as I caught my breath the masked marauder pulled out what appeared to be a small knife, which was then plunged into the back of the unsuspecting Alex as I used every bit of my catlike physical prowess to twist out of the way.”

Robin avoiding the questions and the lustful stares of New York’s finest, proceeds to leave the scene of the crime and repairs herself to a nearby restaurant and treats herself to a culinary repast prepared especially for her by a devoted chef and lubricated by several pomegranate margaritas.

Androgynous Murder House Party is a very convoluted mystery, with lots happening. It is one that you have to read every word, to the very end to figure out what is going on. Another element is the task the author has set for himself, not to reveal the gender of the characters. Deliberately using names that could be both female or male, Steven Rigolosi never uses a he or a she and that is very difficult as I discovered just trying to write this review to leave it ambiguous. I have my suspicions but I’m not 100% sure. It is up to each reader to decide if it is Ms Robin Anders or Mr..

I have never read a mystery quite like this one. Androgynous Murder House Party is uniquely different. While rather slow beginning, it culminates in a heap of cross and double cross. Justice is served but Robin Anders’ style. Like I said, I’ve never read a mystery like this one.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane June 24, 2009 www.midnightblood.com



Androgynous Murder House Party
Tales From the Back Page #3
By Steven Rigolosi

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Ransom Note Press (June 15, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0977378764
ISBN-13: 978-0977378760

What Kind of Fantasy Author Am I?

Your result for Which fantasy writer are you?...

Susan Cooper (b. 1935)

9 High-Brow, -23 Violent, -11 Experimental and -17 Cynical!

Congratulations! You are High-Brow, Peaceful, Traditional and Romantic! These concepts are defined below.

Though born in England, Susan Cooper currently lives in the United States. She is most well-known for her The Dark Is Rising sequence, which has received substantial critical acclaim, the second book (also called The Dark Is Rising) in the series winning a Newbury Honor and the fourth book (The Grey King) being awarded the Newbury Medal, one of the world's most prestigious awards for children's literature. The series is one of the finest examples of contemporary fantasy: the kind of fantasy where magic happens in an actually existing place. The Dark Is Rising is set in Britain, where two common themes of fantasy are combined; that of a magic world parallel to ours, which later became so popular with the Harry Potter books and that of ordinary British school-children playing a role in the struggle between Good and Evil, which had earlier been explored by C S Lewis.

Cooper manages to use the idiom of traditional children books to tell a tale of epic proportions, as evil beings from Celtic legends appear on Earth to do battle with the Old Ones, a secret society of people with magic powers. She is also able to combine this rather romantic vision with important messages, the compassion of one of the children being vital to the cause of Good at one point in the story. In Cooper's world, what you think and do matters on a grand scale, a message children and adults alike should take to their hearts.

You are also a lot like Ursula K Le Guin.

If you want some action, try China Miéville.

If you'd like a challenge, try your exact opposite, Lian Hearn.

Your score

This is how to interpret your score: Your attitudes have been measured on four different scales, called 1) High-Brow vs. Low-Brow, 2) Violent vs. Peaceful, 3) Experimental vs. Traditional and 4) Cynical vs. Romantic. Imagine that when you were born, you were in a state of innocence, a tabula rasa who would have scored zero on each scale. Since then, a number of circumstances (including genetical, cultural and environmental factors) have pushed you towards either end of these scales. If you're at 45 or -45 you would be almost entirely cynical, low-brow or whatever. The closer to zero you are, the less extreme your attitude. However, you should always be more of either (eg more romantic than cynical). Please note that even though High-Brow, Violent, Experimental and Cynical have positive numbers (1 through 45) and their opposites negative numbers (-1 through -45), this doesn't mean that either quality is better. All attitudes have their positive and negative sides, as explained below.

High-Brow vs. Low-Brow

You received 9 points, making you more High-Brow than Low-Brow. Being high-browed in this context refers to being more fascinated with the sort of art that critics and scholars tend to favour, rather than the best-selling kind. At their best, high-brows are cultured, able to appreciate the finer nuances of literature and not content with simplifications. At their worst they are, well, snobs.

Violent vs. Peaceful

You received -23 points, making you more Peaceful than Violent. This scale is a measurement of a) if you are tolerant to violence in fiction and b) whether you see violence as a means that can be used to achieve a good end. If you aren't, and you don't, then you are peaceful as defined here. At their best, peaceful people are the ones who encourage dialogue and understanding as a means of solving conflicts. At their worst, they are standing passively by as they or third parties are hurt by less scrupulous individuals.

Experimental vs. Traditional

You received -11 points, making you more Traditional than Experimental. Your position on this scale indicates if you're more likely to seek out the new and unexpected or if you are more comfortable with the familiar, especially in regards to culture. Note that traditional as defined here does not equal conservative, in the political sense. At their best, traditional people don't change winning concepts, favouring storytelling over empty poses. At their worst, they are somewhat narrow-minded.

Cynical vs. Romantic

You received -17 points, making you more Romantic than Cynical. Your position on this scale indicates if you are more likely to be wary, suspicious and skeptical to people around you and the world at large, or if you are more likely to believe in grand schemes, happy endings and the basic goodness of humankind. It is by far the most vaguely defined scale, which is why you'll find the sentence "you are also a lot like x" above. If you feel that your position on this scale is wrong, then you are probably more like author x. At their best, romantic people are optimistic, willing to work for a good cause and an inspiration to their peers. At their worst, they are easily fooled and too easily lead.

Take Which fantasy writer are you? at HelloQuizzy

The Language of Bees

by Laurie R. King


WARNING: Do Not Read This Book, until you can read #10. This book has a real cliff hanging ending, leaving you craving another serving, and unfortunately it will be some time before THE GREEN MAN appears. According to the Laurie R. King website
http://www.laurierking.com/ Sometime in 2010.

But what about THE LANGUAGE OF BEES? It has been quite awhile since I read any Mary Russell. The last book LOCKED ROOMS was published in 2005. That is one thing that amazes me. How she can continue with such long breaks between stories, the problems of continuity are overwhelming. I am amazed that the story continues on so strongly, pulling you in, and wrapping you in the familiar.

Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes return home after almost a year away. They have traveled around the world solving crimes, some devastating to themselves personally and to their relationship. They come home rather wounded, to discover not the peace and haven they thought, but that Sherlock Holmes has a grown son, whose wife and daughter have gone missing. Their search for Yolanda and Estelle leaves them following a trail of bloody sacrifices and a religious madman. Can they decipher the clues and reach the trail’s end in time to save an innocent child from the sacrificial knife?

This book pulled me in. I couldn’t put it down, reading all day Sunday. Still not finished I did the unthinkable and skipped to the end. But it did allow me to go to bed and return to reading the next day. This time I read more slowly because I didn’t want to abandoned that world. I want to keep reading. Laurie R. King is such a great writer and her portrayals of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes brilliant. But LANGUAGE OF BEES was like Star War’s “Empire Strikes Back”. While it comes to a satisfactory end, there is so much is left unanswered that I’m impatient for the next in the series. Probably to satisfy my hunger, I will have to go back and read the whole series from the beginning. Now that’s a good idea, each book is well worth reading again, and maybe by then the next book will be out.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane www.midnightblood.com June 16, 2009

The Language of Bees
by Laurie R. King
Publisher: Bantam Books
Pub. Date: April 2009
ISBN-13: 9780553804546
Series: Mary Russell Series, #9

Justice Hall

By Laurie R. King

JUSTICE HALL is the sixth book in the series about Sherlock Holmes and his wife Mary Russell. Yes, a much older Sherlock Holmes, now in his fifties, has taken on an apprentice and a wife, in the much younger Mary Russell. The stories are told from Mary's viewpoint, as she and Sherlock work together to solve cases.

This one reunites Mary and Sherlock with two former friends, but times find them much changed. When Mary and Sherlock knew them, they knew them as Ali and Muhammad, two Beduins who helped them travel through Palestine on a secret mission for Mycroft. At the time Sherlock had his suspicions that the two brothers were not originally Arab as they appeared. And indeed they were not. Now, Ali turns up on the door begging help for Muhammad and looking and sounding like a very proper English gentleman. The problem that Ali needs help with so desperately is the fact that circumstances have demanded that Muhammad resume his old life as Marsh Hughenfort and the death of the heir to the title has made him the seventh Duke. Mary and Sherlock travel to Justice Hall and find a very unhappy man determined to do his duty, even though being away from his beloved desert is killing him. When it becomes clear that they will not be able to change his mind, Sherlock and Mary set out to help by providing Marsh with support during the difficult time and begin investigating the rather suspicious death of the young heir, executed for cowardice during World War I, and the set out to prove whether or not Marsh's heir, the son of his brother, is actually his son. More and more mysteries enter and then someone tries to kill Marsh. And the game is afoot.

Laurie E. King has written another great addition to her rather improbable mystery series that takes a very much different look at Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock is still the Sherlock we know and love and yet different. Mary is charming and a very unique modern woman, a true heroine. JUSTICE HALL is very worth reading.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane, June 5, 2002.

Justice Hall
By Laurie R. King
Bantam Books
Copyright April 2002
ISBN 0-556-11113-2
Series: Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes
Genre: Suspense

DARK OF THE SUN

By Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Published by Tom Doherty Associates
Copyright 2004
ISBN#: 0-765-31102-X
Series: “Saint-Germain #17"
Genre: Historical Vampire

Fans of Saint-Germain will be absolutely delighted at this addition to the saga of the legendary vampire. It is the year 535 AD and Saint-Germain, aka Zangi-Ragozh, is a successful merchant in China. Called to wait upon the Chinese Emperor, Zangi-Rogozh starts to cross China with a small caravan and his faithful servant, Rojeh, when distant Krakatoa erupts in a mighty volcanic explosion that is even heard in distant Peking. Following the eruption, tsunamis destroy coastal towns and much of the shipping. (Shades of what recently happened in that area.) Tons of ash and sulfur are thrown into the atmosphere, ringing the world and causing severe weather changes. The sun dims. Burning sulfur rain and yellow snow fall. There is no spring, no summer, crops fail, famine and fevers plague not just some of the world, but everywhere. Many people believe that the end of the world is coming. Zangi-Ragozh decides to return to his homeland, the book covers his long and perilous journey.

Those who know the series will find the glimpse afforded into Saint Germain’s beginnings fascinating and the trials and tribulations that the hero must overcome interesting reading. Those new to the series may be surprised, for this series certainly is not like any other. Be prepared for a rich historical novel where the hero just happens to be a vampire rather than a vampire novel. There are no bloody animalistic feeding frenzies. While Saint-Germain does enjoy sex with his food, the heightening of emotions increases the power of the blood to sustain him, the stories lack the elaborate sexual fantasies of the typical vampire romance. And while Saint-Germain has his past anguishes, he is no brooding hero living in the throws of despair. In fact, having lived 2500 years has made him rather cautious and conservative. He tends to plan for the worse and believes in taking extra precautions. Still, he is very much a hero for the kindness and generosity that he displays, especially towards women, making him much more human than the humans around him. Nor have his vampire powers made him something of a super hero battling evil. No extraordinary powers such as an ability to change form or control minds. He possess the usual strengths, imperviousness to cold, excellent night vision, and an amazing ability to heal himself. But he is not dead to the world during the day nor does he burst into flames when touched by sunlight. He is weakened by running water and sunlight, but that can be countered to some extent by his native soil, which he keeps in the heel of his boots, stuffed into his saddle, and in a crate to sleep on. But Saint-Germain is more than a mere vampire. He is an intellectual, an Alchemist capable of changing lead into gold and making precious jewels, and a healer, who makes what he calls the sovereign remedy out of moldy bread. While we care about Saint-Germain, the author tells more than just his story as she blends letters from various ship captains, merchants, and friends to tell the story of the people he comes in contact with and the world in general during this time of crisis. This is not a fast read, but it is an interesting read, giving the reader a feel for a time and place from long ago. It is a worthy addition to what may possibly be the longest vampire series.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane March 20, 2005

First published Vampire Books and Authors at Suite101.com

For more information about the series.

Dark of the Sun
By Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Published by Tom Doherty Associates
Copyright 2004
ISBN#: 0-765-31102-X
Series: “Saint-Germain #17"
Genre: Historical Vampire

Yellow Moon

by Jewell Parker Rhodes

A creature rises from the ocean depths, drawn by music to attack victims, draining the blood. With each victim, it becomes more substantial, leaving a trail of bloodless bodies. Police detective, Daniel Parks brings the first victim to Dr. Marie Laveau to examine, hoping to use her special expertise to help him solve the crime. Now she is being follow by a growing string of ghosts begging her for help.

Marie is the descendant of the great voodoo priestess of New Orleans. She is a
modern doctor, a single mother, and a fledgling voodoo priestess. Along with the cop, Daniel Parks, she follows the creature’s trail, learning what it is, a wazimamoto, a vampire of Colonial Africa, and hopefully how to destroy it.

New Orleans, voodoo, music are an exotic mix and should be exciting, but I found it a slow read, maybe too much religion and philosophy. What on the surface should fit into the formula Urban Fantasy, steps outside into the mainstream, a literary vampire story. Perhaps all the deaths bothered me. The author has managed to kill off almost every character that Marie had connections to, her best friends, even her dog, along with the assorted other victims.

YELLOW MOON is the third book in a trilogy, and the only one dealing with a vampire. The series starts with VOODOO DREAMS which tells the story of the historic Marie Laveau, and is followed by VOODOO SEASON, which described the modern Marie Laveau discovering her ancestry and her powers.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane, May 15, 2009, www.midnightblood.com

YELLOW MOON
by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Atria (August 19, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416537104
ISBN-13: 978-1416537106
Vampires, Voodoo, New Orleans

Tandem Tryst

by Ralph E. Horner

TANDEM TRYST wasn’t what I expected, but then I’m not quite sure what I did expect
from my first time traveling romance. Let’s be clear, this is a SWEET romance, almost as straight laced as the Victorians portrayed. Jeff travels back in time 100 years to meet his deceased wife’s Marcy ancestor Melody, Marcy’s reincarnation or was Marcy Melody’s reincarnation? Confusing isn’t it. Whichever, Melody looks, speaks, and acts like Marcy, but as Jeff learns, is her own person molded by the world she lives in.

I’ll warn you if you are one of those who likes everything tied up neatly at the end, all questions answered, then you’ll be disappointed. After all time travel is paradoxical in nature and Ralph Horner has left a lot for the reader to wonder at. He also assures me that there is a sequel in the offing, so perhaps he will be forgiven.

The setting is the 1893 Chicago Fair and the author has managed to cram in an
enormous amount of history without making you feel as though you are reading a
travelogue or a dull history tome. Rich with detail describes it, TANDEM TRYST brings the 1890's to life.

The mystery grows slowly as someone stalks Jeff, trying to steal the magic ring which allows him to travel to the past. Gradually the mystery consumes the story until the dramatic conclusion. Again, I warn you if you are looking for a detective novel, you will be disappointed, there is no detective working hard to solve the crime, rather things just keep happening, involving Jeff and Melody in the mystery.

This is a mellow, slow paced book, well written, full of vivid details. The highlight is the fair and its multitude of attractions. For the people of that time, it was an experience of a lifetime, a marvel, from the world’s largest Ferris wheel, a ice roller coaster, a moving walkway over the lake, dancers, musicians, and entertainers from around the world, exotic cuisines, and some not so exotic appeared for the first time, such as the hamburger. Art and electric lights. This is a book for those who like history, especially those who like their history with a touch of romance. And the use of the time traveler as a protagonist allows the author to compare the two worlds. I suspect that is why time travel stories have always been popular and continue to do so with writers and
audiences.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane May 13, 2009 www.midnightblood.com

TANDEM TRYST
By Ralph E. Horner
# Paperback
# Publisher: Wings ePress (2009)
# ISBN-10: 1597056227
# ISBN-13: 978-1597056229

DEAD WRECKONING

By Sylvia Dickey Smith

Pirates, smugglers, and murder in Texas

Texas has swamps and bayous? Who knew? Kind of goes against my image of dusty, dry Texas, with the tumbling, tumbling weeds. But I suppose along the coast you would find swamps and bayous. Author Sylvia Dickey Smith has made the area come vividly alive for me, complete with mosquitos, crocodiles or is it alligators, and Spanish moss.

DEAD WRECKONING is an unusual mystery combining the paranormal, a dog, and an older female sleuth, but Sid Smart is no Miss Marple. She is plagued by doubts and insecurities. She left her abusive husband, and the confining world of being a minister’s wife, to build a new life as a private detective. Insecure in her new romantic relationship with Ben and unsure of her abilities as a newly licensed PI, she struggles to save her client from being convicted of murder. Boo, an old woman, claims to have found Jean Lafitte’s schooner, Hotspur, out in the bayou, but when she and her cousin, Sasha, return the next day the schooner is gone. Instead they find Sasha’s husband’s body. Since Boo shot at Zeke the day before, Sasha blames Boo and she is arrested. Sid is on the case, uncovering old pirates, modern smugglers, and ruthless treasure hunters. Visiting the scene of the crime she sees a ghost ship, with a beautiful and buxom lady pirate. Later a gentleman out of the 19th century visits her with a cryptic message. Are they ghosts? Real or just illusions? Sid isn’t sure and neither are we.

I really liked Sid Smart and all her baggage as she struggles to break free of the old confining church life where her husband demanded that she be the perfect minister’s wife. As a former minister’s wife myself, I could relate to her hang-ups and. And her relationship with her dog, almost supernatural. Then there are all the colorful, and I do mean colorful, characters. The writing is good, descriptions vivid. It is well edited, grammar and spelling, but I found myself having to re-read passages to comprehend them a few times.

The solution to why Sasha’s husband was killed was rather obvious, and surprisingly Sid nor the cops never seemed to consider it as a possibility. But the unraveling of the mystery moved along nicely, going in some interesting directions, and coming to a rousing conclusion. DEAD WRECKONING is a delightful mystery, well worth your time and attention, if you like mysteries with a touch of Southern charm. I certainly hope Sid Smart gets her detective agency rebuilt and there will be many more cases in the future.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane April 26, 2009 www.midnightblood.com

DEAD WRECKONING
By Sylvia Dickey Smith
Paperback: 252 pages
Publisher: L & L Dreamspell (March 11, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1603181385
ISBN-13: 978-1603181389

Collie Connection

By Dorothy Bodoin

When forced by circumstances to put down the book only a couple of pages into it, I found myself thinking, “She certainly has a way with words.” Then I heaved a sigh of relief that this is obviously a well written book, with an attention to detail. This thought was followed by a moment of surprise at the slowness of the beginning. It doesn’t start with a dead body or grab me and take off running as I’m used to in so many mysteries, but meanders through the mist and spring flowers. But then I remembered this is a cozy and that is the nature of a cozy. I can hardly wait until my next opportunity to pick it up.

~*~

I just finished COLLIE CONNECTION by Dorothy Bodoin and I am basking in the glow of a very happy ending. I don’t suppose that is a spoiler, since cozies always have a happy ending, but I felt in the course of the book that Dorothy’s heroine, Jennet Greenway had become a very close friend and she deserves her happy ending.

Jennet Greenway has lost her collie, Halley, and the person she believes took her turns up dead, floating in a Michigan lake. While she searches for Halley, she must deal with plans for her rapidly approaching wedding, reviews of her teaching by the principal (it seems that being sent to the principal’s office is every bit as traumatic for teachers as it is for kids.), and two more collies in her life that can in no way take the place in her heart of the one missing. Not to mention the series of mysteries that capture her attention, such as anonymous and strangely threatening wedding gifts, Alyssa, a strange little girl, who buys dinner every night at the Clovers Restaurant, a missing waitress and cook, and.who killed Crystal and dumped her in the lake

Dorothy Bodoin has filled Foxglove Corners with interesting and compelling characters, especially the heroine Jennet. The story moves at a leisurely pace, but never bogs down. The nit-picker in me found a few too many minor copy editing problems to give it the highest Q Award, but you won’t be disappointed when you read COLLIE CONNECTION.

And if you enjoy reading cozies, I highly recommend that you do.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane, March 31, 2009, www.midnightblood.com

Collie Connection
By Dorothy Bodoin
Trade Paperback
Publisher: Wings ePress (2009)
ISBN-10: 159705643X
ISBN-13: 978-1597056434
Available from www.Wings-Press.com (best price), Amazon.com, Fictionwise.com

A Curse of Silence

A Curse of Silence: A Mystery of Ancient Egypt by Lauren Haney

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
The ruler has sent her cousin Amonked to inspect the
fortresses along the Belly of Stones with the purpose
of closing them and removing the army. Everyone
from the Commander Thuty down to the lowest
peasant is horrified by the thought. When Amonked
arrives with ships laden with unbelievable finery he
seems just another bureaucrat whose mind is
already made up, unimpressed by what he sees and
unwilling to listen to reason. Against advice, he plans
to haul all the luxuries, including his beautiful
concubine, along with him across the desert. Despite
rumors of the return of a desert bandit, Amonked
refuses Commander Thuty’s offer of guards, claiming
that his own troops are enough, despite the fact that
they have neither faced combat or the desert. But as
the caravan leaves Buhen, the body of a local prince
is discovered and it appears that someone in
Amonked’s party killed him. Thuty uses the murder as
an excuse to send Bak and Nebwa with 20 bowmen
along. Thuty’s confidence that Bak will find the killer
seems misplaced as the long hot days pass and he is
no closer to uncovering the killer. But he and Nebwa
face graver concerns as it becomes clear that the
threat of the desert bandit is not just a rumor, but fact.
He plans to attack and they are vastly outnumbered.

I like Bak was kept in the dark as to who the killer
was, partially because like he, I came to like all the
characters as they face the challenges of the desert
and the threat of attack. In many ways it was the story
of the wagon train harassed by the hostile Indians, an
exciting adventure. The best so far in the series, I
think.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane March 26, 2009
www.midnightblood.com



View all my reviews.

The Q Awards

The Q Awards

The Starred Q means that this independent published book is of the quality expected of a New York publisher.

The Q means this book meets the minimum standards. It may have some writing defects, a few copy editing problems, but is worth reading.

The Red Typo warns readers that book doesn't meet the minimum quality standards. Poor writing or poor editing.

I hope this helps.

Reviewers are welcome to employ this rating system.

Finding Your Way Around

I have added an Authors list to help you find the reviews you are interested it. It also helped that I learned a lot more about using Blogger and WordPress to create blogs and websites. Eventually I will upgrade www.midnightblood.com to a WordPress site, when I have time, but by make certain changes here, I should be able to incorporate my Blogger site easily into the new site and save myself time and trouble.

For now listings include:

Authors (alphabetically) with the title of the book reviewed.Click on the author will take you to the review.

I also have categorized the articles by subject and genre. Click on the topic will bring a list of all articles related to that subject.

news - Updates about me and the blog.
articles - not reviews.
Q Awards - books that are published independently (eBook and print) that are ratedd by quality.
Wings Press - books published by my publisher, Wings ePress, Inc.

Genre (this list will grow) It is also somewhat limited to what I like to read.Again click on subject will bring up all reviews.
Fantasy
Urban Fantasy - These include paranormal series like Anita Blake and Harry Dresden. .
Paranormal romance - Romance with supernatural or paranormal elements.
Mystery
Mystery Cozy
Paranormal mystery - Mystery with supernatural or paranormal elements.
Romantic Mystery
Mystery Native American / South West
Historical Mystery Egyptian
Historical Mystery 19th Century

Try Just Once More

By Kate Henry Doran

“Maggie McQuire didn’t have time to die. With only two days left before the opening ceremonies of Saranac Lake’s winter carnival, there were too many things left undone.”

So begins this fast pace book, with one of the best first lines I have ever read in a long time. Maggie and her three grown children, Tom, Devon, and Lauren, are finally putting their lives back together after the horror that was her husband / their father’s death and the media circus and accusations of possible murder that followed. Tom has become a police officer, riding mounted patrol, Devon is a world famous artist, and Lauren beginning a promising career as a dancer. Everything is going well for Maggie and her children, except that Devon was mugged and later involved in a drive-by shooting, and Lauren stalked, and then Tom is critically injured when his horse goes down during a riot.

Oh yes, Maggie’s brakes failed and she barely avoids ending up at the bottom of a ravine along with her car, thanks to a Good Samaritan. She is very attracted to the Good Samaritan, his deep, soothing voice and good looks until she learns he is the one thing she detests more than reporters, a cop, the Chief of Police and Tom’s boss. And Michael learns she is another nurse, just like his detestable ex-wife. Sparks fly, lots of misunderstandings, lots of romantic ups and downs. And lots of humor. That was one of the best things about TRY JUST ONCE MORE, the sense of humor. Maggie faces her days with humor, laughing at herself and life, but she has a sharp witty tongue that is often unleashed on Michael.

After awhile, Michael begins to suspect that there might be something more sinister behind the accidents than just bad luck. But why would anyone want to kill Maggie and her kids? The answer is surprising and shocking.

Not only is this book full of humor and witticism, it is also vividly real. Maggie is a member of AA and she must struggle every day. I cried with her when Tom almost died, I grieved as Michael relived his own son’s death, and when Maggie finally unlocked her heart to share her past with Michael.

My only complaint is that this book needed to be more, possibly four books. There was so much going on, so much that happened in the past, hinted at, but never fully explained, that it felt like it should be one of those romance series where the author writes a romance for each character. I would have loved to know how Rachel became scarred, about Devon and Nessa’s relationship, and more about Kit. But it was enough to get to know Maggie and Michael, to find that romance can happen to those over 40. TRY JUST ONCE MORE is a great romance, shadowed by a great dark evil.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane

Try Just Once More
by Kate Henry Doran
Wings Press
Paperback: 332 pages
Publisher: Wings ePress (2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1597058386
ISBN-13: 978-1597058384

Visit Kat's website www.KatHenry.com

Awards

Sometime ago, I reviewed a novel. This book had been accepted for publication; in fact, was in the final stages of editing and shortly going to be published. The author was someone with a long impressive list of books published by various Internet publishers. I was truly surprised by what I read. It was what I consider a second draft in need of considerable work. The story had problems like not clearly setting the scene and changing the nature of characters half way through the story. There were lots of typographical and spelling errors, including correctly-spelled-wrong-words. I was amazed that the publisher had accepted it for publication. Certainly the basic story had strong potential, but in my opinion, the version I read was nowhere near ready for publication.

That’s the problem today. It’s far too easy to publish books. At least with “mainstream print publishers,” there was a level of professionalism. Now, my 9-year-old-grandson can turn out a beautifully printed, even illustrated book, with all of his mis-spellings and poor grammar. I’m not saying that all books published by the mainstream publishers are worth reading or that all Internet published books are poorly written. Not at all. Internet publishers have opened the doors to many talented writers who found New York doors closed and in doing so have expanded the boundaries for writers and readers alike. I am saying though, just the fact that a book has been published is no longer a guarantee of quality.

I struggled to write a review that reflected the situation honestly and afterward considered what to do about the problem. We reviewers have a even more important role than we had before. Before we wrote about whether we liked a book or not. Now, we also need to let the readers know the quality of the published work. “Self-published” scares people away because we have visions of poorly spelled, poorly written, unedited books, that no publisher wants. That may not be the case. Even when there is an actual publisher and the work is edited, quality standards vary among the Independent Publishers.

I decided we need a new rating system that rates the professionalism, the quality of the book, that can promote those books, whether self-published or published by Internet publishers or small press print publishers, that live up to a standard of quality, and can warn readers of those who don’t.

The Q Awards

The Starred Q means that this independent published book is of the quality expected of a New York publisher.

The Q means this book meets the minimum standards. It may have some writing defects, a few copy editing problems, but is worth reading.

The Red Typo warns readers that book doesn't meet the minimum quality standards. Poor writing or poor editing.

I hope this helps.

Reviewers are welcome to employ this rating system.