Finished THE HANGED MAN

 

Her Majesty's Psychic Service, of which Alex is a member, can see if people are lying and often much more.  The people "gifted"? with these abilities often see then as a curse, troubling and interfering with their lives.  But, at least in this service, they can be of some help to society.  I am hoping this will be a series...so far it is just the one book, but I'll keep looking.  Thoroughly enjoyed the book for it's adventure, mystery, and fabulous characters.

I have now started Amazonia by one of my favorite authors, James Rollins.  Take everything you know about the dangers of the Amazon, multiply them by ten, then double them for the increased danger of greedy humans, and you have a THRILLER with sci-fi leanings.  This is not a Sigma Force novel and I miss my beloved characters,  but Rollins is deft with characters and those I am meeting in this book are also wonderful.  A series of "out of the frying pan into the fire" adventures.

Finished THE WILD WAYS and another book

 

In the first book of this trilogy, The Enchantment Emporium, we met Alison (Allie) who rose to great power in a town somewhat new to the establishment of the Gale family (the Aunties) who hitherto held most of the power in the family.  As the younger generation grow their stomping ground, we met Charlotte (Charlie) who was a "wild power" (unpredictable).  This book explores Charlie's growth into her power and interests.  Loved it.  Solving problems when you have power which is wild and unpredictable can be difficult, especially when you adversary is an older family member with the same wild power.

Then I read The Aura of Night  by Heather Graham.  Is this really Krewe of Hunters, # 37?  I don't think I have read them all.  Luckily each one stands on its own.  This adds an extra supernatural power to just seeing ghosts.  This book's new characters have the ability (to differing degrees) to hear what the speaker is not saying.  Reading between the lines.  Quite interesting.  And helpful.

I have now started a new series (Her Majesty's Psychic Service)  by P. N. Elrod.  I read all of her Vampire Files series.  This new series (set in Victorian London) starts with The Hanged Man in which we are met with Alexandria (Alex) Victoria Pendlebury.  Called out on a freezing Christmas to help police at a scene of a hanged man, who turns out to be Alex's father.  She started working looking at the scene before realizing who the victim was and she and her police contact are in trouble for her even being there.  Relieved of the case, but then still involved because she was the first psychic there making her insights valuable, she is attempting to do her job while grieving...

Finished MURDER IN THE DARK

 

Quite a few mysteries to solve in this one.  I liked the idea of a 4 day New Year's Eve party (ending on New Year's Eve at Midnight...)  For that reason, it was unusual and especially fun.  Love these books.

I have now started The Wild Ways, the second of the Gale Women series by Tanya Huff.  I loved The Curiosity Emporium, the first book in this series.  Charlie is home to discover that Jack (teenage dragon/magician) is probably more difficult to house and raise than Allie had expected.

Finished Epitaph

 

Surprisingly readable.  The four Earp brothers are introduced and shown as caring about each other but much different.  The book starts with the young woman who will eventually end up with Wyatt, but that is long before any Tombstone gunfight.  And that gunfight is much different than publicized and takes up just about no time in relation to the rest of the book.  Wonderful character studies and history of the essence of the time.

I have now finished reading Written in My Own Heart's Blood, the eighth and last book of the Outlander series.  Once again I am sorry to have finished the entire epic, which has entertained me for so long.  There is another series about Lord John Ford and I may order it, but I'm not sure I expect it to be equally as compelling as this series.  Loved it!

I have now begun another Phryne Fisher mystery, Murder in the Dark.  Phryne has been warned against going to a four day New Year's party puported to be the Last Best Party.  She has been told it will be her last party also.... but, well Phryne, not to be disuaded...

Read another 50 pages in Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell

 

This huge book with the skinny pages and the fine print broke in half while I was reading.  It actually helped...holding it open to read the words at the binding was breaking my hands.  But the story is readable enough.  Jonathan's war work being finished, he has begun to write a book, which Mr. Norrell is not happy about. 

I'm now about to begin Epitaph, A Novel of The O.K. Corral.  Not usually interested in westerns, so, if I get bored, I'll quit and move on.  Rather desperately in need of filling in my "to read" piles.

Finished ALPINE DESTINY

 

I do love this author, but am not particularly happy with this book.  Even after terraforming the moon and creating a paradise there, humans are still willing to kill each other for land, power, and, of course, for money.  But, this is probably realistic as Melton is...

Then I started (and finished) The Road to Golden Days, a Mailbox Mystery, by Melanie Lageschulte.  Set in the same area as her Season's series, I get to check in with old friends and make new ones.  Someone is burning empty decrepit buildings in the area and, though no one has been hurt yet, firefighters (volunteers) and farmland is being put in danger.  It is only a matter of time.

I am now returning to Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell.

Finished DEATHSTALKER RETURN and IT HAD TO BE YOU

 

I cannot tell you why I enjoy these books.  Characters are basically anti-heroic and very human.  They are up against enormous odds.  And I am reading them out of order (which is a bit frustrating, but there is enough background given so I am not lost.)  But, they keep my attention, and in this age of our world, it is nice to see the little guys triumph against all odds.

Then I read It Had to be You, an Undersuspicion novel by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke.  This, I think, marks my having read all of Mary HIggins Clark's books and I bid her a reluctant fairwell.  I enjoyed this one very much.  I think it may have been more complicated than the others in this series, which of course is okay.

I am now about to start another book by a favorite author, Henry Melton.  Alpine Destiny continues the colonization of the Moon (Luna).  The Alpine colony was completely destroyed by fire before the last book in the series started.  Only two brothers survived and they were separated in the last book.  Looking forward to see what happens next.