Finished THE BLESSED SEASON and 50 pages of THE CODE BREAKER

 

You would think the holidays would be a busy enough time for retail business owners, especially if they also have a small working farm, but what with the US Post Office deciding to close their Prosper branch because it is so small....  Well, really hectic since the townspeople are sure that this means the end of their town.  What can they possibly do to save their beloved town?  I enjoyed this relaxing read as always.

I then returned to The Code Breaker for another 50 pages.  Again we are immersed in how complicated giving credit to the correct scientist(s) when several in different parts of the world worked to develop something as earthshattering as a procedure that can cure virus born diseases, many cancers, and even some genetic diseases!

I have now started Seventh Decimate by Stephen R. Donaldson.  This is the first in a series...I probably won't live until the last book comes out.  The series is called The Great God's War.  A war has been raging, started by brothers who fell in love with the same woman...centuries ago.  It continues because magicians are involved constantly improving their techniques to kill people...

Finished AMAZONIA

 

I stayed up late night before last to finish this.  Nail-biter for several reason, starting with likable characters whose lives were in danger from epidemic, crazy gunmen, and mutated monsters.  All of the likable characters were given opportunities to be heroes, but that did not protect them from death.  Whew, I was exhausted when I finished and slept long and hard afterward.

I have now started The Blessed Season, by Melanie Lageschulte.  A welcome change from Amazonia, I now get to calm down as I deal with squabbles about the renovation of a Community gathering place, the Post Office being threatened with closure, and a major magazine wanting to feature the little town engendering more squabbles.  But Melanie is at least at peace at home...

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.