Hop 'Til You Drop

Hop ‘Til You Drop (A Jules & Bun Mystery; Book 3 in the Series by J. M. Griffin 288 pages

I fell in love with Bun, a telepathic Dutch rabbit, during his first outing, in “Left Fur Dead.” And now in this, the third book in the series, little Bun and his owner Juliette “Jules” Bridge continue to be a wonderfully loveable pair of sleuths.

Jules primary source of income is children’s parties that she attends where she brings several of the rabbits she has at her rescue, Fur Bridge Farm. All the rabbits live in hutches in the barn, but Bun has his own room in the house. The conversations Bun and Jules have are sometimes hilarious.

In this episode, Jules has agreed to help out her New Hampshire communitywith the first, and hopefully annual, Hop ‘Til You Drop Easter Egg Hunt. Jules has been assigned to hide the eggs and she takes Bun along…he would never let her end the end of it if she didn’t. After all, Bun’s an expert at finding great places to hide eggs.

As they scout their sector, Bun hops across a dead body. It’s not just any body, but the deceased is Della Meany, a very unpleasant woman who is spearheading the event. Our dynamic duo know that Sheriff Jack Carter would prefer that the not nose around in his investigation. As the bodies begin to pile up, he turns to Jules for help in snooping in places his uniform can’t get him into.

I love the interaction between Bun and Jules. Bun is a super confident little dude, who knows his worth and is incredibly nosy.

Hop ‘Til You Drop receives 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world. 

 

When You See Me

 When You See Me by Lisa Gardner 385 pages

Summary from Goodreads: FBI Special Agent Kimberly Quincy and Sergeant Detective DD Warren have built a task force to follow the digital bread crumbs left behind by deceased serial kidnapper Jacob Ness. And when a disturbing piece of evidence comes to light, they decide to bring in Flora Dane who has personal experience of being imprisoned by Ness.

Their investigations take them to a small town deep in the hills of Georgia where something seems to be deeply wrong.

What at first seems like a Gothic eeriness soon hardens into something much more sinister as they discover that for all the evil Jacob committed while alive, his worst secret is still to be revealed.

Quincy and DD must summon their considerable skills and experience to crack the most disturbing case of their careers - and Flora must face her own past directly in the hope of saving others. 

And here's what I thought: I was really happy to read another book with the characters of Flora Dane and D.D. Warren. I think these two characters in particular play well off of each other and I liked seeing Kimberly Quincy again. Like other books by Gardner, this is a dark story with some twists and turns, where details become uncovered that lead to some ugly discoveries. The book has a tight pace, which I really enjoy, too.

The Royal Rabbits of London: The Hunt for the Golden Carrot

The Royal Rabbits of London: The Hunt for the Golden Carrot (Book 4 in the series) by Santa Montefiore & Simon Sebag Montefiore 230 pages

It’s late summer in London. Deep below Buckingham Palace, our favorite fictional bunny, Shylo Tawny-Tail, is happy with his role as a Royal Rabbit. The Royal Rabbits are a secret group of specially trained rabbits whose mission it is to guard the Royal Family…on the QT of course!

As the story opens, it’s a special day for Shylo. He gets to go his home warren for a visit; he hasn’t been home since the spring!  He is sooooooooo excited! And while he has had many grand adventures, he misses his mom and his siblings. After packing and saying his so longs, Shylo hops aboard the underground Rabbit Rail bound for the English countryside.  

But when he arrives, he quickly realizes that something fishy is going on.  All the other rabbits are mesmerized by a mysterious named Harlequin. Shylo, with his outsider’s perspective, sees that Harlequin has developed a cult-like following. I was reminded of Jim Jones, Charles Manson and others who have convinced followers into blind obedience.

Harlequin is after the Golden Carrot, which, according to ancient legend, will give him complete power of all humans and animals. All Shylo’s siblings and his old friends are digging up the countryside, looking for the valuable artifact. More and more rabbits come to the farm to look for the Golden Carrot.  But when the search turns deadly, Shylo must use all his resources to figure out exactly what Harlequin is trying to do. 

Shylo calls on all his hometown friends and his Royal Rabbit colleagues and even some of bad guys he has recently encountered to help him solve the mystery.  It was fun to see all the characters from the previous three stories. The appearance of these characters may signal the end of the series—it has that feeling.

The Royal Rabbits of London: The Hunt for the Golden Carrot receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

The Soprano Sorceress

The Soprano Sorceress by L. E. Modesitt Jr., 509p

Anna Marshall is a middle-aged music instructor at a university. She is somewhat down on her luck and wishes to be elsewhere. At the same time, a young musician named Daffyd in the magical land of Erde enlists a travel sorceress to summon a powerful sorceress to help him get revenge on the sorcerer who killed his father.

In Erde, magic is created through song. Things do not got quite as Daffyd hoped. Anna discovers her musical talents, including singing, make her powerful but she doesn't know the ways of Erde and how the magic works. She teams up with the sorcerer who killed Daffyd's dad  to defend the country of Defalk against the Darksingers of Ebra.

She is successful but the sorcerer dies and she is left to make her way in the political world of Defalk. Her magic gives her power but makes her a target for the Ebrans and threatens the power of those in Defalk. In the end, she has to try to save Defalk and come to terms with her own power.

It has things that could be appealing such as the song magic and it has been referred to as feminist fantasy. However, it lacks too many things for me to recommend it. I wanted more explanation of how the magic worked but didn't get it. Except for the main character, most of the characters aren't well developed. It drags in places and then goes too quickly in others.

Fade Away

Fade Away by Harlan Coben, 328 pages

I listened to this as an audiobook.
Sports agent Myron Bolitar is back! This is the third book in the series. Myron is a former basketball star whose professional career was ended before it started. Another player injured his knee before his rookie season.

Now the owner of a team wants him to find NBA star Greg Downing who is Myron's former rival. He will go 'undercover' by signing and playing with the team. In the process of searching for Greg parts of his past will be dredged up and will stumble on another mystery. A dead woman is found. Is Greg involved and what is her real identity?

Definitely recommended reading. Once again, Coben weaves his mystery with wit and suspense. The narration was as good as the first two books in the series. There is not so much continuity that you have to read the books in order but it does help.

Drop Shot

Drop Shot by Harlan Coben, 310 pages

This is the second book in the Myron Bolitar series. Up and coming tennis star Duane Richwood is Myron's featured client in this book.

While Myron is watching one of Duane's matches at the US Open when he hears a gunshot. He goes to investigate and discovers that Valerie Simpson has been killed. She was a star professional tennis player but had a breakdown. She had recently had meetings with Myron and may have been trying to make a comeback.

Duane is somehow connected with Valerie but Myron doesn't know how and Duane starts acting strange. As Myron tries to figure out who killed her events from six years are dredged up and might be connected.

I listened to this as an audiobook and the narration was as excellent as the first book. I would recommend this book to people who like humorous mysteries. The humor is dry and there are some hard boiled parts as well.

Deal Breaker

Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben, 339 pages

Myron Bolitar is a sports agent with a complicated back story. It is explored as book goes along but also leaves room for character development further in the series. Myron was a star basketball player whose career was ended by injury before he could make his NBA debut. He is also a lawyer who worked for the FBI in some capacity. Finally, he is a smartass and the story is told with wit.

His biggest client is a rookie NFL quarterback. Just as he is about to sign his contract things get complicated. There are signs that his girlfriend who is missing and presumed dead may still be alive. Bolitar is determined to find her if she is alive. 

I listened to this as an audiobook. I thought the narrator, Jonathan Marosz, did an excellent job. I thought his deadpan conveyed the humor well and was serious when needed.

The Kingdom of Copper

The Kingdom of Copper by S. A. Chakraborty, 621 pages

This is the second book in the Daevabad trilogy. It starts five years after the end of the first book. Sometimes a second book will jump right back into the action but this one was almost a reset since the start is five years later. It took 150 pages before it got really good.

Ali has adjusted to life after being banished including dealing with the occasional assassination attempt until forces pull him back to Daevabad. He is reunited with Nahri but after events at the end of the last book he is estranged from his friend. He is also on the outs with his brother Muntadhir. On the good side, his mother has returned and his sister is on his side.

Unbeknownst to Nahri, her mother Manizheh (we found out at the end of the first book that she is not dead) is plotting to reconquer the city her people once ruled. Mother and daughter may not have the same aims though.

I can't say that I enjoyed this one as much as the first one in the series but I did like it a lot. Chakraborty has built a wonderful world, has good characters and spins a good tale. I would highly recommend this series to anyone who reads fantasy.

Wild Country

Wild Country (The World of the Others #2) by Anne Bishop    480 pages

"There are ghost towns in the world—places where the humans were annihilated in retaliation for the slaughter of the shape-shifting Others.

One of those places is Bennett, a town at the northern end of the Elder Hills—a town surrounded by the wild country. Now efforts are being made to resettle Bennett as a community where humans and Others live and work together. A young female police officer has been hired as the deputy to a Wolfgard sheriff. A deadly type of Other wants to run a human-style saloon. And a couple with four foster children—one of whom is a blood prophet—hope to find acceptance.

But as they reopen the stores and the professional offices and start to make lives for themselves, the town of Bennett attracts the attention of other humans looking for profit. And the arrival of the Blackstone Clan, outlaws and gamblers all, will uncover secrets…or bury them"   (summary courtesy of Goodreads)

I used the Goodreads summary because I couldn't figure out a good way to talk about the plot without somehow including a lot of information from the series, in general.  I think this is definitely a book where you need to have read the previous book in this series, as well as least one of the books in The Others series --- because otherwise, a lot of things might not make as much sense.  Or, you'll spend a lot of time trying to figure something out that was covered in a previous story.  

I enjoyed this book as much as the other previous books, although I found parts of it to be a little predictable (although not entirely, which was good).  I like the world that Bishop has created, and that she has taken a series and done a bit of a spin-off, which allows her to keep using that world but concentrate on different characters (who may or may not connect to each other).

Conspiracies

Conspiracies by F. Paul Wilson, 11 hrs., 33 min., 317 pages

This is the third book in the Repairman Jack series. Jack's screening process has evolved with the times. He now screens through e-mail and voicemail. Technology is also making it harder to stay under the radar.

He is working two cases, both of which he has taken on reluctantly. One involves a brother trying to help his sister who is a victim of domestic abuse. Jack usually doesn't get involved in those kinds of cases but commits to at least investigating. As he feared things get complicated.

The other one is the main case. A man's wife has gone missing right before she is about to reveal a major discovery that explains conspiracy theories. Through mysterious means she has contacted her husband and told him that Jack is the only one that can help. Is someone trying to prevent her from revealing her findings or is something else going on? And is this case somehow related to events in Jack's past?

There were parts of this book that I liked but I wasn't satisfied with the reveal and the ending. Overall, I liked this book the least of the first three books in the series. It could be that the horror/supernatural element is not my favorite.

Legacies

Legacies by F. Paul Wilson, Audiobook: 12 hrs. and 29 mins. Hardback Book: 381 pages


This is the second book in the Repairman Jack series. I listened to the audiobook. The donated Christmas presents have been stolen from the pediatric AIDS clinic that Jack's on-again off-again girlfriend Gia volunteers at. She hesitantly enlists his help in recovering them.

Helping brings him in contact with the head of the clinic, Alicia Clayton. She has bigger problems than just stolen presents. Her dead father has left her with a house she doesn't want but she doesn't want her brother to have it either. Through legal maneuvers, he has prevented her from getting in the house. This has prevented her from figuring out why he wants it so badly. Her brother is also in league with some criminals. Jack has to keep her safe and discover what in the house is so valuable. Another part of the story is that Alicia has to come to grips with a family secret.

I realized that I am still a big fan of Wilson's characters but I am not sure how much I love his plots. The reveal of what they were trying to find was a great idea but it felt like an afterthought. I feel the found thing should have had an effect on the plot but maybe part of it was because it was found too late in the book.

A Memory of Light

A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, Audiobook: 42 hours, Book: 909 pages

This is the fourteenth and final book in the Wheel of Time series.

The time for the final battle has come. Rand and half the world convene to determine their plan of attack. He demands that all the rulers agree to peace after the final battle in payment for him fighting the Dark One. It is agreed, with the contingency that he get the Seanchan to agree as well.

Mat has gone to Ebou Dar to check on his wife Tuon and finds out some unsettling information. Later, Rand shows up and enlists the aid of Tuon and the Seanchan.

The final battle is waged on four fronts with Elayne overseeing them. They are fighting for their lives against the forces of the Shadow and creating time for Rand's fight against the Dark One. Both Mat and Perring play a part. Mat directs the army of the Seanchan. Perrin has to enter the world of dreams and try to protect Rand from an assassin.

As Rand is fighting the Dark One, he has several revelations about the nature of world and life. His path becomes clear and he knows what he has to do.

I read this book when it came out. At the time, I wasn't completely satisfied with the final battle but now that I have listened to it I think that all of it was a fitting ending.

Towers of Midnight

Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, Audiobook: 38 hours, Book: 861 pages


This is the penultimate book in the Wheel of Times series.

Rand visits Egwene in the White Tower to tell her about part of his plan for the last battle and sets a meeting to discuss it. Egwene disagrees with his plan and tries to line up allies for her viewpoint.

While Perrin and his army are traveling they run into the Children of the Light. Perrin had several bad encounters with them previously. He submits to a trial by a neutral party and is found guilty with the sentence to be named by the head of the Children of the Light after the last battle. The two groups separate but Perrin ends up coming to their aid.

Mat is still in Caemlyn where he comes up with a plot to kill a supernatural assassin that seems indestructible. He also is working on a special weapon to be used in the last battle. At the end of the book, Mat, along with two companions, enters a mystical tower inhabited by snakelike and foxlike humanoids who are tricksters. They attempt to save the Aes Sedai Moraine. They thought she was dead but had found out that she was trapped in the Tower of Ghenjei.

I liked listening to this more than when I read it years ago. I still found parts of it lacking. For one, the ordering and intersection of the plots was jumbled. Secondly, I did not feel like the dialogue was true to some of characters considering I had read the series before and listened to it recently. It makes me wonder if Jordan had written most of the twelfth book but Sanderson wrote most of this one or I just noticed the difference more.

The Gathering Storm

The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, Audiobook: 33 hours, Book: 783 pages


 This is the twelfth (out of fourteen) book in the Wheel of Time series. The author passed away before he could finish the series. His widow asked Sanderson to finish it. The author had intended it to be one book but it became clear that it would be way too long so it was divided up into three books. So, this is the first third of the "last" book. Jordan left extensive notes including the ending so Sanderson had to fill in the details and try to stay true to the series.

In the beginning of the book, Rand is in Arad Doman trying to bring peace to the country by making an alliance with the Seanchan. Something happens that further emotionally hardens him so that he is on the point of breaking. He has to figure out how to beat Graendal (one of the Forsaken) but she is smarter than him. His solution works but upsets some of those closest to him. This leads them to help Cadsuane find his father and reunite them but the plan doesn't quite turn out how they would like or does it?

Egwene is still captive of the non-rebel Aes Sedai in the White Tower where she is fomenting dissent against the head of them - The Amyrlin Seat Elaida. Verin comes to her to reveal vital information shortly before the Seanchan attack the White Tower on a raid. These two things set off a chain of events.

The book mainly focuses on those two with Perrin and Mat mainly traveling. Perrin is traveling north with Mat doing the same. Mat is on the way to Caemlyn when it turns out Verin is waiting for him along the way. She offers to transport him and his army to Caemlyn but only on certain conditions. Of course, he accepts, but only after hemming and hawing.

The book ends with Rand having a revelation that will effect the course of his actions and future events.

I found this book to be a fitting first part of the "last" book. Sanderson does a good job of staying true to the series and the characters.

Survivor Diaries: Overboard!

Survivor Diaries: Overboard by Terry Lynn Johnson    112 pages

This is the third book in author Terry Lynn Johnson’s “Survivor Diaries” series. All the books have the same tagline: “Stay Calm. Stay Smart. Survive.”

In this short book, Johnson uses fictional characters to make what could be a dull story into an exciting adventure that left me cheering for the main protagonist.

Travis and his family are going whale-watching off the coast of Washington. The voyage is interesting, mainly because the captain has a daughter, Maria, about Travis’s age whom he finds cute.  He stays close by her during the voyage.

When a whale attacks the ship, Travis and Maria are thrown overboard. In the chaos, they can’t locate the boat. Luckily, Maria knows her stuff and helps Travis navigate the frigid waters.

A wonderful combination of fiction and nonfiction makes for fascinating reading, and readers of any age can learn how to survive in water. Survivor Diaries: Overboard receives 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

City of Brass

City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty, 532 pages


This is a new fantasy series that is set in the Middle East. Most of the characters in this book are supernatural creatures or half human and half supernatural creatures. The City of Brass - Daevabad is inhabited by djinn.


Nahri is a bit of a con woman living in Cairo. She accidently reveals an ifrit and then conjures a djinn named Dara. She finds out she is half supernatural creature. Ifrit are chasing her while she travels to Daevabad with Dara. He has a complicated past. As they travel, they learn about each other and start to have feelings for each other.


Meanwhile, Alizayd is second son of the king of the djinns. He is trying to help the shafits but things get messy. The shafits are poorly treated mixed race people - half djinn and half human. He finds himself trying to navigate court politics.


Nahri and Dara arrive at Daevabad where Dara's past may catch up with him and Nahri finds out how important she is and she how rough her adjustment is going to be. Alizayd ends up befriending her. Dara and Ali clash with Nahri in the middle and she is forced to make some tough choices.


This book got me hooked pretty quickly and I didn't want to put it down. It doesn't say so but the way it ended points to a series. I can't wait for the next book. There was some mystery, some romance, some drama, and some action. I thought she did a really good job of creating her world and presenting well rounded characters. I could see people who don't normally read fantasy liking this one.

Knife of Dreams

Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan, Audiobook: 32 hours, Paperback book: 784 pages




This is the eleventh (out of fourteen) book in the Wheel of Time series. In this book a lot of groundwork is laid for the series to be wrapped up. There are signs that the end battle is coming such as ghosts of cities and people appearing. It happens to multiple characters and is pretty widespread.


Perrin plans the rescue of his wife and near the end of the book sets the plan into action. Mat is still trying to hide from the Seanchan but has to separate from the circus he has been travelling with. Along the way, several things are clarified for him. He meets up with part of his army and looks set to be going on a new perilous adventure.


Rand and the people he is with are surprise attacked by Trollocs and Myrdraal. Later, he has setup a meeting with the daughter of the Nine Moon who we know is Tuon (she is with Mat) so something seems off before the meeting happens.


Egwene (the head of the rebel Aes Sedai) has been captured by the other group of Aes Sedai and is trying to create dissension from the inside of the White Tower.


Elayne's attempt to become the Queen of Andor seems to be at a stand still but then the situation shifts and it comes to a conclusion. In fact, several storylines come to exciting conclusions.


Mat is my favorite character in this series. He is a bit of a rogue. Elayne is my least favorite. She is spoiled and doesn't think seriously enough about the consequences her actions could have on others.


This is one of my favorite books of the series. You can see the end coming and there are some exciting developments and action along the way.

Crossroads of Twilight

Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan, Audiobook: 26 hours, Hardback book: 700 pages

The title of this book is very appropriate. This is the tenth of fourteen books in the Wheel of Time series. Events and characters in this series have important choices to make and some of them are made in this book. About 2/3 of the events in this book are concurrent with Rand's attempt to cleanse the male half of magic.

Mat is trying to hide from the Seanchan with part of his army and the member of the Seanchan royalty who he kidnapped out of necessity to hide his escape. He is now trying to court her even though he thinks himself a fool for doing so.

Perrin is still trying to rescue his wife from the Aiel who captured her. In the process, he must make some hard choices about the man he wants to be.

Rand is in hiding but is found by those bringing good news and bad news. He has made a risky choice but we don't find out what it is in this book.

Elayne is still working on her claim to the throne of Andor and we find out what some of her opposition is up to.

There is an update on events with the Rebel Aes Sedai and the other Aes Sedai. Separately, have decided they should ally themselves with the Black Tower (society of men who can channel) even though they are worried the men could go mad.

The conclusion of this one isn't very exciting but the even though not much happens I thought it moved along very well and was a compelling part of the series. This is definitely a series that should be read from the beginning.

The Road to Paradise

The Road to Paradise by Karen Barnett      352 pages

In this first book of the Vintage National Parks series, author takes us to Mount Rainier in Washington State. Signed into law in 1899 by President William McKinley, Mount Rainier National Park is the nations’ fifth national park and the first created from a national forest.

Sit back and get ready to enjoy the beauty of the park as author Karen Barnett describes it’d splendor. The majestic beauty of the park is only accentuated by the wonderful little yarn Barnett unravels.

It’s 1927. Margaret (Margie) Lane is an avid naturalist. She has fled to the park after her former fiancé strikes her.  Margie is a senator’s daughter and has only known the lap of luxury. But she’s more than willing to give it up to settle herself in God’s beauty.

Unknown to her, Margie’s father has made a significant donation to the park in order to secure her a position for the summer. The calendar may read June, but there is still snow on the ground.

Margie reports to Chief Ranger Ford Brayden, who is extremely uncomfortable with a green-horn woman in his park.

The park has been Ford’s life. He took over his father’s job when he died attempting to scale Rainier. Ford hasn’t come to terms with that yet although it’s been two years now.

Margie manages to provide a radiance to the park that is warmer than the upcoming summer. Soon Margie’s ex-fiancé shows up, doing his best to disrupt the mountain’s peace.  Margie has other plans and will stop at nothing to thwart him, including attempting to climb to the summit.

The Road to Paradise is the perfect summer read. All the descriptions of the snow and the budding spring soon make readers forget that sweat is dripping down their spines. The interaction between the characters is honest. The plot moves along nicely and the pacing keeps readers quickly turning the page to learn what happens next.

The Road to Paradise receives 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for this review.

Peace in the Valley

 Peace in the Valley by Ruth Logan Herne        352 pages

Welcome to Book 3, and the final book, in the Double S Ranch series.  It’s nice to meet up with the Stafford clan again.

This adventure centers on the third, and youngest, son, Trey. Trey is actually a cousin to brothers Colt and Nick. His uncle/now father Sam adopted Trey after his parents overdosed and died in California when he was three years old. He remembers a bit about that life but is grateful that Sam rescued him.

Trey is a country mega-star. He seems to have it all, but that’s just on the outside. He still suffers from growing up without a mother’s love. He is still trying to prove that he was right to pursue his music dream, no matter how much Sam disapproved. And he is still reeling from the death of his wife, Cathy, also from drugs.

Now Sam is sick; he needs a liver transplant. Ironically the one person who is not a full-blood relative is the best match. Trey doesn’t hesitate to donate part of his liver to Sam. It’s a painful and dangerous operation, but Trey knows that it’s the right thing to do.

On his way back home to Gray Glen, Washington, and the Double S Ranch, Trey has a little fender-bender with the single mom on the neighboring farm. Things have never been easy between Sam and Lucy Carlton, but that’s about to change.

Sam is trying to make up for his past and the way he treated the other residents in the valley. Back then, he didn’t care who walked over to get what he wanted…and he did. Often.

While waiting to hear from a San Francisco hospital for the go-ahead with the surgery, Sam sends Trey over to Lucy’s farm to help. The place is falling apart and it’s up to Trey to make it whole again.

The plot is predictable from there on, but I knew what I was getting into when I selected this book to read. It does go on a too long, with the same basic scene being repeated over and over. There are a lot more Bible verses in this episode than the first two. I felt as if Herne was trying to get those in than crafting the story. Still, it’s a fun read with a happy ending, so Peace in the Valley receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

I received this book from Blogging for Books  in exchange for this review.