Midnight Blood Reviews

VBT December 1st Book Tour

2009-12-01T18:56:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-30T12:36:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-16T09:14:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-10T15:48:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-24T12:10:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-06-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-16T01:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-09T01:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-02T12:21:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-27T01:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-20T01:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-02T12:39:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-17T19:02:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-29T18:51:00.001-07:00

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

2009-03-16T01:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-09T01:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-08T19:13:00.000-07:00

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.

Kitty and the Silver Bullet

2008-11-28T01:00:00.000-08:00

By Carrie Vaughn

Oh goody, it’s always nice when you find a favorite new author and don’t have to wait too long for the next book. I just finished the SFBC edition, Long Time Listener, First Time Werewolf, an omnibus of Carrie Vaugh’s first 3 books, Kitty and the Midnight Hour, Kitty Goes to Washington, and Kitty Takes a Vacation, when I discovered her fourth Kitty and the Silver Bullet.

I was eager to continue the story of Kitty Norville, radio DJ and reluctant werewolf who seems to always get herself in trouble despite her best efforts to avoid it and lead a normal life.

This time her mother is ill and she returns to Denver despite the fact that the leaders of her old pack have promised to kill her on sight if she ever returned. But keeping out of sight isn’t an option when she is pulled into the local vampire political struggle and dead bodies start turning up.

Carrie Vaughn continues to show her ability to tell a captivating story. This book is going to find a place on my “must own” shelf next to Jim Butcher, Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris, Laurell K. Hamilton. I can hardly wait to learn more of Kitty’s story, and I was pleased to see a new one is coming out this fall.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane October 14, 2008

KITTY AND THE SILVER BULLET
Carrie Vaughn
Grand Central Publishing
2008

A Stroke of Midnight

2008-11-24T01:00:00.000-08:00

By Laurell K. Hamilton

In some ways I liked this book better than the previous ones, but I absolutely hated the ending. Or rather the lack of an ending. It is as though the author wrote a certain number of words and then just quit leaving the story in the middle. In the previous book SEDUCED BY MOONLIGHT, Merry and her body guards “slash” harem returned to the faerie sithen, foiling several assassination attempts against herself and even the Queen of Air and Darkness, Andais.

This book starts the next day with a press conference, followed by the murder of a demi-fae and a human reporter. Merry convinces Andais to let her bring in human police and CIS investigators hoping that they can discover clues with science that magic might hide.

But that isn’t the only problem Merry has. The Goddess is determined to restore the power to the fae using Merry. Because Merry is descended from five fertility deities, it of course involves sex, and it doesn’t matter if it is inconvenient for Merry to stop what she is doing and fuck someone new.

Suddenly her bodyguards are being attacked. When Galen almost dies, it brings home to Merry just how important he and the others have come to her.

Merry just doesn’t have time for all that is going on, but the newly awaken sithen helps by speeding time up within its confines.

This book becomes more and more fantastical as new powers or rather old powers are restore, like the way Merry gets a tattoo. Laurell K. Hamilton’s imagination is beyond creative, as are her sex scenes. Each one is different and highly erotic. It is no longer so much about getting her pregnant, but about being a vessel that the Goddess will use. It is good that she really isn’t adding any more lovers too her roster of handsome, broody men. We have enough to keep tack of.

As I said, I enjoyed this book because although there was a lot of sex, there didn’t feel as though there was a lot of gratuitous sex. Some but not all. There was a purpose to the sex, it wakened powers, made things happen. Besides there was just too much other stuff going on that crowded out some of the sex.

And there lies the problem. There is so much left hanging at the end of the story, there is no sense of completion or satisfaction. Sort of like Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back and just like then, we have a long wait until the next installment. Ugh!

Reviewed by Linda Suzane June 14, 2005

A Stroke of Midnight
By Laurell K. Hamilton
Published by Random House
Copyright 2005
ISBN#: 0-345-44357-8
Series: Merry Gentry #4
Genre Subgenre: Paranormal

Kitty takes a Vacation

2008-11-21T01:00:00.000-08:00

By Carrie Vaughn

Kitty has run away from all the notoriety that Washington caused. She is staying in a
mountain cabin. Then someone leaves a dead rabbit on her porch, painting a cross in
blood on her door. Who is trying to place a curse on her and why?

Then Cormac shows up with her lawyer, Ben. Ben has been bitten by a werewolf. Ben
and Cormac grew up together, cousins, and best friends. Cormac had been hired to
take out a werewolf, and asked Ben to back him up, but something went wrong and Ben
got bitten. Cormac is guilt-ridden but can’t bring himself to follow through on his
promise to kill Ben if something should happen.

Kitty nurses Ben through the trauma, helps him during his first full moon, and realizes
that Ben is now her pack. As well as her lover.

But trouble is brewing. Something evil is slaughtering cattle. The sheriff thinks it is a
werewolf, Kitty. But it isn’t. It is something far worse.

Carrie Vaughn has captured me, I am totally enamored with the story of Kitty Norville
and can hardly wait until the next in the series.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane

Kitty takes a Vacation
Warner Books Copyright 2007

Second Sight

2008-11-17T01:00:00.000-08:00

By Amanda Quick

Victorian England, Venetia is a wellbred young woman, left penniless when her parents die. But unlike so many stories of its ilk, she doesn’t become a governess. No, Venetia earns a livelihood for herself and her younger sister and brother as a photographer. To give herself respectability she assumes the role of a widow, taking the name of Jones, in honor of the one night of exquisite passion she experienced with Gabriel Jones, before he was killed in an accident. But Gabriel isn’t dead and suddenly she has a husband to contend with.

Second Sight is a nice piece of fluff, with a paranormal touch. Venetia can read auras. Gabriel Jones is a member of the Arcane Society, and possess his own psychic abilities. And of course there is a villain and lots of danger. As I said a nice piece of fluff, with a happy ever after ending.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane, September 3, 2008

Second Sight
Amanda Quick
An Arcane Society Novel
G.P. Putnam
2006
ISBN: 0-399-15352-7

Kitty goes to Washington

2008-11-14T01:00:00.001-08:00

By Carrie Vaughn

As a self proclaimed werewolf, Kitty is called as an expert witness to testify before a Congressional committee overseeing a government agency The Center for the Study of Paranatural Biology, which has just released a report that claims that lycanthropy and vampirism are diseases and real. But it is a trap. The head of the committee is Senator Joseph Duke who is rabidly against werewolves and vampires, especially Kitty. Things smell wrong to Kitty and she and her lawyer Ben start investigating the head of the Center, trying to figure out what is really going on behind the scenes. Too late, Kitty discovers that she is the focus of the plot and ends up totally exposed as she transforms on live TV.

Again Carrie Vaughn has created a sympathetic picture of the difficulties of being a werewolf and the same time telling a complex, fast paced story, this time taking advantage of all the sleeze that makes up politics. If Kitty thought pack politics could be deadly, she’s learning that Washington politics are even more so.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane

Kitty goes to Washington
Warner Books Copyright 2006

The Smoke Thief

2008-11-10T01:00:00.000-08:00

By Shana Abe

I’m not quite sure how this book made it out of the romance paperbacks and into hardback, and into the fiction section, rather than romance, because it is one of those Alpha Male finds the only woman who can complete him and it becomes a battle to make her submit. Christine Feehan and other have made this kind of romance very popular, but it isn’t vampires this time, but dragons.

Over the centuries, the dragons to protect themselves have learned to masquerade as human. The Drakon, the remnant of the once proud species lives in hiding in England, living in villages upon the rural estate of the Marques of Langford. To keep the dragons’ secret, they are forbidden to leave the confines of Darkfirth, although a few have gone rogue to be hunted down and returned. But now the new Marques of Langford, Kris, has a problem. There is a jewel thief in London who sounds suspiciously like one of them, but there is no one missing. Kris must discover who this rogue is and bring him home.

Rue grew up despised by the Drakon, a halfling, whose father was human. On her seventeenth birthday, Rue discovered she could turn, turn into a dragon with wings. She is the first female in several generations to be able to turn, which makes her the alpha female. She knows that she will be forced to marry Kris. While she has loved Kris from afar, as has every girl in the shire, she refuses to be forced to submit and stages her own death, escaping to London. There she uses the inherent dragon skills, especially the ability to turn into smoke, to become a master thief and leads a life full of adventure and role playing, knowing that one day, the Drakon will come for her.

Kris sets a trap for her by bring their greatest treasure, a huge violet diamond, to London to put on display. Unable to resist, she visits the museum and is caught by Kris. Kris is shocked to realized that she is a woman, and in the instant she turns to smoke, he realizes that she is his future mate. Then someone steals the jewel. In the confusion, Rue escapes. Kris has her scent and tracks her down and she is returned to Darkfirth.

Rue makes a bargain with Kris and the Council. She will recover the diamond and lead them to the other runner hiding in London, in return for her freedom. She and Kris set off to London and exciting adventures, Kris planning on using the time to win her love. She already loves hm but is determined not to give away her independence.

The story is interesting, the twists and turns intriguing if somewhat predictable. The dragons are shapeshifters, shifting first to smoke and then to dragon form. When the regain human form, they have left their clothes behind, and are naked, which causes Rue some problems and some interesting possibilities between the two of them. The setting is rather generic England, supposedly around 1740, but there wasn’t enough to set it as a particular period. The heroine, as is often the case, was too modern in her attitudes for the period.

Do I recommend it? Yes and no. If you are like my husband, looking for a good fantasy novel, you probably won’t like it. The romantic elements are way too strong. But romance readers will definitely enjoy it. I was reminded of the Regency romances I used to read, but way more interesting.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane, October 25, 2005

The Smoke Thief
Shana Abe
Published by Bantam Books
Copyright 2005
ISBN: 0-553-80448-0
Genre Subgenre: Fantasy Romance

Kitty and the Midnight Hour

2008-11-07T01:00:00.000-08:00

Long-time Listener, First-Time Werewolf
By Carrie Vaughn
SFBC edition 2007
Kitty and the Midnight Hour
Warner Books Copyright 2005
Kitty Norville is a werewolf who is also hosts a radio show called the Midnight Hour, “the show that isn’t afraid of the dark or the creatures that live there...” Almost by accident she starts taking calls about the supernatural, and her down-to-earth advice to werewolves, vampires, and wannabes, believers and disbelievers, turns her show into a rating success. But not everyone is happy with her popularity. Her pack leader wants her to quit, so does the head of the local Vampire family. But Kitty loves her show. It is hers, something important, that helps her hold her life together. Then someone sends a bounty hunter after her. Cormac, a man who makes his living killing werewolves, has been hired to kill her while she is on air. In a bold move she keeps him talking, convinces him hold off killing her, but in the meantime announces on live radio that she is a werewolf. Everyone, even her mother now knows. Her life is changed forever.

She has to find out who wants her dead, hates her enough to hire Cormac. Not only that, someone is out killing people and it looks like a werewolf. As the only confessed werewolf, Kitty ends up the police prime suspect, and she ends up turning to Cormac to help her clear her name and put the end to the murderous rampage.

Being a werewolf isn’t easy, Carrie Vaughn makes Kitty a sympathetic character, one you want to root for. Her world is interesting and captivating and full of surprises.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane

Kitty and the Midnight Hour
By Carrie Vaughn
Warner Books Copyright 2005

Long-time Listener, First-Time Werewolf
SFBC edition 2007

Midnight Never Come

2008-11-03T01:00:00.000-08:00

by Marie Brennan

I had a hard time classifying MIDNIGHT NEVER COME. I suppose it falls in the category of a paranormal romance. But it lacks the steam or the erotica that we have come to expect from paranormal romances. I’m not even sure I would classify it as a romance, for it lacks the typical structure of romance novels, even thought the love story between Deven and Lune is an integral part in the story. Then is it a historical novel? Set during Queen Elizabeth I reign, it does indeed stand the test for a historical novel. The historical details are rich and vibrant and the characters literally step out of the pages of history. But it is more than just a historical novel. The author Marie Brennan has added to the convoluted machinations of the Royal Court another player or rather group of players. The fairy Queen Invidiana and the fae of the Onyx Court, which exists beneath the city of London in a parody of Queen Elizabeth’s own court. Deven, one of the Queen Elizabeth’s own Gentlemen Pensioner, (fancy term for guards), is also in the service of Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth’s Principal Secretary. He is a spy. And he is set the task to discover the identity of the secret player who has been influencing the Queen and English politics. Deven doesn’t expect that his search will lead him to the woman that he loves and wants to marry, or that all she appears to be is a lie, and she herself is a fairy, the Lady Lune, and a spy for the Onyx Court. Now perhaps we could call it a historical mystery, for the two of them must uncover a secret that threatens both Courts.

I found myself enjoying the slow pace of the book, that followed more the pattern of historical mystery novels than the usual paranormal fantasy. I enjoyed the richness of the historical detail, but I also enjoyed the glittering made up world of the fae.

So what is MIDNIGHT NEVER COME? I guess you could call it a paranormal fantasy - historical - romantic - mystery. That’s quite a mouthful to describe an unusual and interesting blending of genres, Marie Brennan has managed to make it all come together and work. MIDNIGHT NEVER COME is well worth reading.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane, October 14, 2008

Midnight Never Come
Marie Brennan
Paranormal Romance / Historical
Orbit
June 2008
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-02029-9
ISBN-10: 0-316-02029-X

What do I call it?

2008-10-31T01:00:00.000-07:00

I just added a new author and character to my list of favorites, which includes Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake and gang and Merry Gentry and her men of fae, Jim Butcher and the Dresden Files, Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampire series, and Kim Harrison and her witch, Rachel Morgan. To the list I now add Carrie Vaughn and her creation, Kitty Norville. Kitty is a reluctant werewolf and a radio D.J..

I started to wonder how to classify these new stories. Paranormal romances? No. Mysteries? No. Science Fiction? No. Fantasy? Maybe, but not really. Perhaps we need a new name, a new sub-genre.

The first Anita Blake stories by Laurell K. Hamilton were originally sold as romances. But from the very beginning, they didn’t quite fit. I seem to remember that Laurell K. Hamilton belonged to a writers’ group called The Alternate Historians or something like that. Could Anita Blake fall into the Science Fiction sub-genre Alternate History, where an event changes history? In this case, the event was vampires coming out of the closet. Her books were also mysteries. Anita Blake is often referred to as a paranormal investigator. When you look Laurell K. Hamilton up, she is classified as a Science Fiction/Fantasy author.

So what do Anita Blake, Merry Gentry, Harry Dresden, Sookie Stackhouse, Rachel Morgan all have in common? They have to do with the paranormal.

Dark fantasy is another term I’ve heard used, since they are fantasy, but with the dark side of vampires, werewolves, and other creatures of the night. But Dark Fantasy has been linked with horror, and usually these books tend to be on the light, often humorous side.

Paranormal romances have become extremely popular with ghosts, vampires, werewolves, witches, even angels. People can’t seem to get enough of them. But although each of the above mentioned series have romantic elements, even erotica, they don’t really fit into the classic romance. Or even paranormal romance.

They also had mystery elements, but as the stories progressed, the relationships and the world became more important and often overshadowed the mystery. So they really don’t fit the term mystery, or even paranormal mystery.

I came across another term, Magic Realism. That certainly sounded like a possibility. But I did some research. It is narrowly defined, to represent first a style of art and later a particular kind of literature, in Latin America in the 1940's. While in most ways, these books don’t match the criteria for Magic Realism, they do in one area, that the supernatural is considered real by the characters.

Bruce Holland Rogers says, “If a magazine editor these days asks for contributions that are magical realism, what she's really saying is that she wants contemporary fantasy written to a high literary standard.” It is a marketing term.

There is one other term that I have heard used to describe them -- Urban Fantasy. Laurell K. Hamilton’s Merry Gentry series is referred to as an urban fantasy on her website.

According to Wikipedia, Urban Fantasy is a subset of contemporary fantasy, consisting of magical novels and stories set in contemporary, real-world, urban settings. Either in what is called open, where the magic and paranormal events are accepted to exist or closed, where they exist, but remain hidden. It has also become a term used in films, which include movies and TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, and the Dresden Files, a show based on Jim Butcher’s books.

So I guess Urban Fantasy is best fit.

NaNoWriMo

2008-10-30T21:01:00.000-07:00

What is that? National Novel Writing Month begins November 1st, and challenges over 110,000 authors to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days.

I have accepted the challenge. So I've posted reviews ahead for the next 4 weeks, so that I can focus on my writing. I'll check back in December.

Tell Me, Pretty Maiden

2008-10-27T01:00:00.000-07:00

by Rhys Bowen

We readers have been following the adventures of Molly Murphy, an extraordinary Irish immigrant to New York City in the early 1900's. Forced to flee Ireland, she arrives penniless. Unwilling to succumb to the drudgery of being a maid, or working in the sweat shops, definitely not interested in being kept in a brothel, she happens upon a job with a private detective. When he dies tragically, she just keeps on as a detective. Her Irish luck brings continuing success to her career.

This time she is dealing with multiple cases. A malignant ghost haunting a theater, a background check of a prospective groom, and an investigation of a robbery. In the robbery, the evidence is overwhelming against a young man, a nephew of a friend, who is missing. Can she find him and prove his innocence? Not to mention it, Molly found a young girl lying in the snow, catatonic. Molly takes her in, determined to discover what terrible trauma has robbed her of speech. Then there is Molly’s boyfriend, Daniel Sullivan, who continues to brood over his unjust dismissal from the police force and keeps treating her without respect for her independent nature. For Molly won’t be shoved into the prison of being what society expects women of that era to be.

My major complaint about this story is the author attempted to keep the reader in the dark, by keeping Molly clueless on things she should have questioned or figured out. Unfortunately, it wasn’t much a mystery to me what had happened and I found it irritating that Molly wasn’t smart enough to have a clue. Despite that weakness, I enjoyed the characters and the setting very much. This time we get to see backstage at the theater and the insides of the horrid insane asylum and meet the famous Nelly Bly. Hopefully next time out, the author will allow Molly to show her native brilliance. And please get Daniel over his depression, he broods way too much, not to mention his male chauvinistic behavior is really irritating. He either needs to grow up or Molly needs to kick him out.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane

TELL ME, PRETTY MAIDEN, A Molly Murphy Mystery
Rhys Bowen
St. Martin’s Minotaur 2008
ISBN 13: 978-0-312-34943-1

What is ISBN?

2008-10-23T16:58:00.000-07:00

ISBN, what is it? When I noticed a book listing an ISBN-10 and ISBN-13 number, I found myself asking what was going on.

So I did a little investigation. In 2007, they switched from an ISBN-10 to an ISBN-13, but recommended that books published in the transition period carry both.

But what is an ISBN? It stands for International Standard Book Number. Supposedly every book, professionally published, has been given a unique 10 digit ISBN, since the system started in 1970. Now that has been changed to 13 digits. Why? To better conform with the 13 digit EAN code, which is a bar code for all products.

So what does the code mean?
For example: ISBN# 978-81-7525766-0
978 - Is the EAN code for books.
81 - Is group code, such as identifying it as an English speaking country.
7525 - Identifies the publisher. A publisher may have more than one code.
766- Product number.
0 - Check sum. This number is arrived at by following a complex mathematical formula. You multiply all the numbers by a predetermined amount, add together the totals, and divide them by 11 or 10 depending if it is 10 or 13 ISBN. The number that remains is then added to the check sum number to equal 11 or 10. This is supposed to assure that there are no errors when typing numbers so that no invalid ISBN are issued.

So now you and I know a little bit more.

The Right Hand of Amon

2008-10-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

by Lauren Haney

From the time I was a teenager, I have been fascinated by ancient Egypt. One of my all time favorite series is Amelia Peabody by Elizabeth Peter. I was very pleased when I found the Lord Meron series by Lynda S. Robinson and sorely disappointed when it ended after six books. Now I have found Lauren Haney series about Lieutenant Bak, commander of the Medjay police during reign of Queen Maatkare Hatshepsut.

THE RIGHT HAND OF AMON is a beautiful mystery, the kind where the characters and clues are unfolded slowly and with exquisite precision against a backdrop that is at both exotic and yet realistically familiar. She has brought ancient Egypt alive with great skill.

My only regret is that there are only eight books in the series. From what I read, her publisher dropped the series and she hasn’t found a new publisher. One can only hope she does, for if the rest are as good as THE RIGHT HAND OF AMON, it is a series worth owning, one that shouldn’t be dropped because it is midlist. I better stop before I start a rant. If you enjoy mysteries and Egypt, this is definitely a book you want to read.

THE RIGHT HAND OF AMON
By Lauren Haney
Avon Books Inc
1997

Reviewed by Linda Suzane October 18, 2008

Savannah's Secret

2008-10-13T01:00:00.000-07:00

By Marie Held

SAVANNAH'S SECRET is a romantic spy thriller. And thrilling it is. Reporter Serena Watson begins researching the mysterious destruction of an old mansion, the Peck House, in Savannah, Georgia. Curious about the strange lack of information about the explosion, she initiates a title search. Suddenly someone breaks in to her apartment, then a stranger bumps into her, someone who claims to know her, yet won't explain how. Brent warms her that she must stop her investigation. When it seems that there are men watching her, she reluctantly agrees. For Brent makes her feel safe and protected, and she finds herself definitely drawn to him. Then Brent steals all her notes and disappears without telling her what is going on. Angry, she goes on with her investigation and into life-threatening-danger.

This is a better spy thriller than a romance, if only because the romance follows my least favorite plotline. The conflict results from neither party bothering to communicate, when one simple question or an honest answer would have resolved the issues. Brent thinks he is protecting Serena by not telling her what is going on. Wrong! Serena assumes that Missy is Brent's girlfriend. Wrong! Brent assumes Serena is still in love with her ex-boyfriend, Randall. Wrong! Neither one will let the other know that they love one another and so suffer. While there are many fans who enjoy this romantic formula, I find myself frustrated at the characters for not speaking out.

I also found Serena a little too weak for a reporter. She let her father and Brent keep her in the dark too much. I know this is what I would classify as a sweet romance, with a very young heroine, but again I would prefer a stronger heroine.

Those of you who are fond of the old fashioned, sweet romance will love SAVANNAH'S SECRET. Marie Held has turned her first novel into a wonderful blend of romance and spy thriller. She has made a good beginning.

Offshore Threat

2008-10-06T09:23:00.000-07:00

by Nancy A. Lindley-Gauthier

Happy, an odd child, often misunderstood, in love with the sea.

Ollie, standing at the moment where one life must end and another begin.

Corwin, a Coast Guard Commander, charged with homeland security, whose biggest problem isn’t foreign terrorists but among his own ranks.

When the body of a young girl bound in chains is discovered stuffed in a culvert, the “chain” of events entangles the lives of these three.

This is old fashioned suspense at its very best.

Whether well researched or personal experience, the author brings a strong sense of reality to this complex tale. The work of the Coast Guard, which deals with national security, checking incoming shipping, and protecting the safety of boaters makes an interesting background. But it was the richness of details, such as the thrill of sailing through a raging storm, the smell of the sea, the waves brushing against the sand, and a child’s joy of simple things like a gull on the wing, that makes this book special.

OFFSHORE THREAT
by Nancy A. Lindley-Gauthier
Wings ePress Inc.
ISBN 978-1-59705-352-5 eBook

Available from Wings ePress http://www.wings-press.com

Learn more about Nancy at her website www.amomentincrime.com

Reviewed by Linda Suzane August 15, 2008

Maze of Secrets

2008-09-26T00:27:00.000-07:00

By Norma Seely

I was lucky enough to spent a “cozy” Sunday with Norma Seely’s great mystery MAZE OF SECRETS. It has everything a lover of the Cozy could want, gardens, tea, cats, and an intrepid older detective, Imajean.

Imajean is a gardener extraordinary whose passion is restoring the Rosewood mansion and the adjacent gardens to their original glory. Reclaiming gardens from over-grown blackberry and brambles is hard enough, but when those around her hide old truths, it makes her all the more determined to find the maze supposedly hidden on the property. Then Imajean’s friend and Rosewood’s director is found lying dead at the bottom of a set of secret stairs.

There is a cast of wonderful quirky characters. According to the author, “Every great detective needs a devil’s advocate.” Imajean has that and a great husband, too, in Glenn. Then there is the bridge play sheriff. And Rosewood’s Board of Directors, one who is definitely a thief, and one who is probably a murderer. The author obviously loves gardening and is an expert at Northwest gardening. She knows more than just the names of the Oregon’s native plants, she makes the gardens vividly real, whether it is the sun-dappled shade garden or the heavenly scent of the rose bower. She has made Rosewood and its gardens come alive. I almost expect to
find them listed on the Register of Historic Homes and Gardens.

Don’t miss MAZE OF SECRETS!

MAZE OF SECRETS
By Norma Seely
Wings ePress Inc.
ISBN 978-1-59705-344-0 eBook
ISBN 978-1-59705-691-5 Trade Paperback

Order it direct from Wings ePress

Reviewed by Linda Suzane July 30, 2008

Ancient Secrets

2008-09-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

By Billie Williams

I had the opportunity to read an early, unedited version of Billie A. Williams, ANCIENT SECRETS. Even in that form, despite the typos and wandering plotline, it shone. The author has a true poetic flair with language as well as a talent to tell a dramatic story. ANCIENT SECRETS revolves around a necklace, mysterious beads of power, whose origins Daringer must discover before they can destroy him and his whole family. A mystery and puzzle worthy of Indiana Jones. A story that like Indiana Jones leads us from the ivy covered halls of a Michigan University to deepest darkest Africa and takes us readers on a wild ride. Don’t miss this exciting adventure.

ANCIENT SECRETS
By Billie A. Williams
Wings ePress Inc.
ISBN 978-1-59705-396-9 eBook
ISBN 978-1-59705-647-2 POD
ANCIENT SECRETS available at Amazon.com, Fictionwise.com, or buy direct at discount from www.Wings-Press.com

To learn more about Billie visit her website at www.BillieWilliams.com

From Dead to Worse

2008-08-16T15:56:00.000-07:00

By Charlaine Harris

I was a fan of Charlaine Harris before Sookie Stackhouse, but now I’m an avid fan, totally hooked, eagerly waiting next installment. In this case, the eighth. I wasn’t disappointed. Each of Sookie Stackhouse’s forays broadens her and our own knowledge of the supernatural world. It must be truly a challenge for the writer to come up with something new and different for each book, but she succeeds. Turns out Sookie has got a very interesting surprise in her family tree. In addition, Sookie is dealing with boy friend problems, were wars, and vampire hostile takeovers. Sookie’s life is just so darn interesting and she is just so down-to-earth that you’ve just got to love her. Although this series started as a mystery, it has taken on a life of its own, like Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series. We are more interesting in following Sookie’s life than solving any mystery. While Charlaine does a good job of explaining past events, I would suggest you start the series from the beginning if possible. That sounds like a good suggestion, give me something to do while I am eagerly awaiting number nine.

Reviewed by Linda Suzane

From Dead to Worse
Charlaine Harris
Ace Hardcover; (May 6, 2008)
ISBN-13: 978-0441015894

Sunday at Rosewood

2008-07-31T13:05:00.000-07:00

What did I read last? I spent Sunday reading my fellow Wings author Norma Seely's book MAZE OF SECRETS. It made for a very "cozy" afternoon, for MAZE has everything, gardens, tea, cats, and a wonderful heroine-detective that a "cozy" lover like me could want. Unfortunately, you won't be able to read this wonderful book until September when it is published along with mine. So I will save my full review until then. But if you like "cozies" be sure to put it on your to-buy list for September.

Blood Noir

2008-07-26T20:35:00.000-07:00

BLOOD NOIR is Laurell K. Hamilton's latest in the Anita Blake series. This one is similar to MICAH in that it focuses mainly on developing the relationship between Anita and just one of her men. This time Jason asks her as a friend to accompany him home so that he can reconcile with his Dad, before his Dad dies. But nothing is ever easy. It turns out that Jason is mistaken for the wealthy son of the ex-Governor who is about to run for President. And they get stuck in a media storm, as well as a kidnap threat. Marmee Noir is also playing tricks again with Anita, causing a two day orgy that Anita can't remember, and for which I was glad the reader wasn't subjected to.

I found this book enjoyable, partially for its simplicity. The storyline isn't so complex, the cast, not so large. It focuses mainly on the development of the relationship between Anita and Jason. Jean-Claude remains in the background. But for those of us who still love Richard, there is a new and interesting twist. No, I won't give you a hint about that. Just read it for yourself.

While the sex was hot and steamy, it wasn't the focus of the whole book and I didn't end up feeling like she was just trying to top herself with something new and more erotic in each chapter. Which is good, since I don't think she could top the first union between Anita, Jason, and Nathaniel, which certainly turned me on.

Yes, if you are a fan, it is a definite read. If you haven't found the series, it might be a good start, since it isn't quite so complicated as some of the other books.

Let's Get Started

2008-07-26T19:08:00.000-07:00

I tried to figure out what sort of blog I should have. I really don't want to do an online diary for everyone to read.

But I finally I came up with what I could do.

What am I reading now!

I like writing reviews, but I haven't for awhile. Midnightblood.com was my original review site, but I would like to turn that into a database run site, but I don't have time right now. So instead, I will start blogging my comments and reviews about the books I read.

So here we go.