Buried in a Bog by: Sheila Connolly

Sheila Connolly has another series that we have read about a young woman who inherits an apple orchard and we have enjoyed that one. So, when I saw this new series that she has written I just had to give it a go. Especially since Ireland is on my Bucket List to visit.
Our leading lady was raised by her Grandmother who was from Ireland and has recently passed away with a request for her granddaughter to go back to Ireland for a visit.
Maura arrives and begins to find new friends, a mystery right away, family, and eventually discovers even more surprises. I don't want to give away any spoilers.
It's a fresh, good read, and it does nothing to lower a visit to Ireland lower on my Bucket List. If anything just makes me wish I could actually go there sometime soon.
Left me looking forward to a second book in this series.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

The Beggar King by: Oliver Potzsch

The Beggar King is the next book in the series The Hangman's Daughter.
I found this to be an interesting series not only for the mystery aspects and I do love a good mystery, but the author shows how the people of these early times lived. There have always been the haves and the have nots. It's also interesting to read how doctors have evolved over time.
I also find it fascinating how people have always traveled since the beginning of time. No matter what the weather conditions or modes of transportation.
Since the latest cruise ship breakdown that's been on the news if those people had had to live like the people in the so called olden days before law suits became so prevelant they would really have something to complain about. Ship travel back then didn't offer compensation for trips that went awry.
So much for my little rant on modern day complainers. 
Check out this series of books for a good mystery, a plucky herione, and some insight into how people used to live.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

Wizard's First Rule by: Terry Goodkind

I just got through reading my 5th Chunkster, I have one more to go before Dec. 31st. I think I will read the second in this series to finish off my Chunkster list for this year.
I've become a big fan of Diana Galbadon and I have been a fan of Christopher Paolini for a long time. Not only did I like Wizard's First Rule, but I found that Terry Goodkind has a very similar writing style.
Good characters with personalities that make you empathize with them sometimes even the mean characters, which is good because there is a little bit of bad in all of us.
I liked the way the story evolved over the 820 pages and for me it had a very satisfying ending. Even though I know this is quite a long series if for some reason I did not know that or was unable to get the next books the author brought all events and characters to an ending that would be happy enough to be a stand alone book. However, since by the time you're finished you're so invested in the characters that it's nice to know there's more to the story.
There is magic, monsters, and even a special dragon. If you're a fan of Fantasy you'll like this one.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

Time Spike by: Eric Flint & Marilyn Kosmatka

I have checked my challenges and I'm close to my 100 books for the year but after reading Time Spike I've got 2 more Chunksters to read.
I'm back into Sci-Fi and Fantasy right now. I find I need a little escape reading and escape is what you do when you read Time Spike.
Eric and his co-author Marilyn have created a very interesting scenario for us. Lots of people, animals, and decisions of what to do about good guys, bad guys, animals, and plants they don't know much about.
There are quite a mix of characters in this book so you need to keep your thinking cap on to keep everyone straight as to who belongs with whom, but even though we love to root for the good guys in stories and real life, you might be surprised, you might end up rooting for some of the bad guys in this one.
The book starts out in a prison, but don't be put off by the first 5 to 10 pages keep reading for some adventure and surprising situations.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

The Silver Shawl by: Elisabeth Grace Foley

The Silver Shawl is set in Colorado in the late 1800's. As you may or may not know back in that time of history when people went West in the U.S. they didn't necessarily give out a lot of information about themselves. So it's no surprise that our heroine's intended doesn't know that much about her when she turns up missing and the local sheriff and a detective start asking questions trying to help find her.
However, her astute neighbor across the hall of her rooming house, Mrs. Meade, seems to be able to suss out clues the men in charge don't seem to catch onto.
This is a plot that has been dressed up in many different kinds of times, clothes, and  characters, but the author has given it a fresh perspective with the introduction of Mrs. Meade.
A quick read with some interesting twists and turns, but I won't tell about the ending. You'll have to read to see how the story turns out.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥ 

The Jade Queen by: Jack Conner

I happened to get this book free on my Kindle, but after opening it up, by the time I got to the third page I knew this was going to be quite a page turner and by the time I got to the end, I would have paid for it.
If you decide to pick this one up and read it I suggest you block off some free time because you won't want to put it down.
I happen to be a big fan of Preston and Child, their Agent Pendergast series especially. This book reminded me very strongly of their style of writing that series. Lots of action, a little bit of creepiness, a little romance, and some mystery thrown in for spice.
I wasn't quite sure how to categorize this book, but I read one of the reviews on Amazon and Jane from Austin, TX said she thought it fell into the Historical/Mythical genre. Without giving away any spoilers on this one maybe that will peak you interest to give this one a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

Farewell, Miss Zukas by: Jo Dereske

Well, all good things must come to an end and I must say Jo Dereske ended the Miss Zukas series on a high note and with a happy ending. I love happy endings.
We've been reading the Miss Zukas series from the beginning, 11 years. That's hard to believe. Miss Zukas has been one of those characters that you could totally believe in even with all her eccentricities. That and her wild friend Ruth, what a pair. They do say opposites attract.
Miss Zukas is a logical thinker and has her way of working through life.
I would highly recommend this series, but I suggest you start from the beginning to get the full benefit of Miss Zukas's family, friends, co-workers, and last but not least the reason we all read mysteries is the great way Miss Zukas helps solve all the mysteries she gets involved in.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

Murder on Waverly Place by: Victoria Thompson

Here is another series we have been reading for a long time and have never tired of it. Since, 1999, as a matter of fact.
Sarah Brandt, mid-wife and confirmed sleuth along with her neighbor, Mrs. Ellsworth, and Maeve, one of the girls she has rescued from the Mission where she helps out from time to time, tend to drive Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy crazy with their meddling in one case after another. However, over the years he and Sarah have forged a friendship of sorts, so he is becoming more resigned to their help.
This is another good read in this series and another book where you need to get comfortable because you'll be reading to the very end to get the full solution.
Ms. Thompson always leaves us wanting the next book because we are still anticipating a deeper relationship between Sarah and Frank.
If you enjoy reading about the Victorian Gaslight era, this would be a series to immerse yourself in.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

Tell Me, Pretty Maiden by: Rhys Bowen

We've been reading Molly Murphy Mysteries since 2002 when the series began.  There are two more books after this one.
Molly has been through thick and thin throughout this series and in this installment it is no different. She is a woman and as most of us women she is still having to prove that she has an intelligent mind.
She meets up with the famous Nellie Bly who happens to be friends with her neighbors across the way, which she finds exciting and decides she can get herself in and out of just as many scrapes as Nellie.
Ms. Bowen's got you on the edge of your seat until the very end in this one, so snuggle in and be prepared to read to the very last page.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

The Black Widow Agency by: Felicia Donovan

Four ladies with some not everyday things in common. It's fun to see how their personalities impact each other and the Agency they have formed to catch men who cause havoc in women's lives.
This turned out to be a fast paced read with a happy conclusion.
I liked it well enough to search out the second one:  Spun Tales.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

The Harper's Quine by: Pat McIntosh

This is a tale of love, deceit, greed, and murder most foul. It's hard to believe as you read this book that human nature and the things that drive humans to be good or bad haven't changed since the beginning of time. I guess that's part of what keeps the universe in balance.
It looks like there are seven more books in this series. I will be reading through the series as the year progresses. I enjoyed the characters and the time frame of this book. Ms. McIntosh gives just enough description to go along with the action to keep the story moving along at a good pace.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

The Last Dickens by: Matthew Pearl

The Last Dickens is a fictionalized account of what might have happened before, during, and after Charles Dickens died suddenly after writing 6 serialized chapters of his last book, The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
This book contains some interesting facts concerning the publishing business in the 1800's that I wasn't aware of. We modern people of the 21st century are lucky to have so much access to books of all kinds from all over the world. Back in those days there were people called Bookeneers who hung around the docks waiting for versions of books from their authors to come across from Europe on their way to publishers here.
Of course, I have to say I don't know that much about how publishing works today, but I'm sure there is just as much fierce competition as there was back in those days.
Charles Dickens was wildly popular, just like our movie stars of today. People flocked to see him when he came over for his American tour of readings of books he had already published.
No ending was ever found to The Mystery of Edwin Drood and as you can see by this book, people are still speculating on how it might have ended.
This is the third book in this series, each one a stand alone. The first is The Dante Club. I confess I tried to read it a couple of times, but it was a little dry for me. The second, The Poe Shadow, I have not attempted yet.
The Last Dickens has enough twists and turns to hold your attention and keep you wondering how it will end.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

Miss Julia Throws a Wedding by: Ann B. Ross

Miss Julia is a typical, sweet, Southern Lady, who likes to have her finger in all her friends pies. She has a little bit of an unusual living arrangement with the woman who was her late husband's mistress and the mistresses son by the late husband. They have become best friends and of course, she loves the little boy.
For some reason when I started this book I thought it was another cozy mystery. Where I got that idea I don't know, but that's o.k., it's a novel.
Even though there is no murder, there is an escaped prisoner, whom the police can't seem to recover, an unexpected miracle happens, and Miss Julia plans and pulls off a wedding in just under a week.
The wedding is for the chief deputy, who also is a boarder in her home and his girlfriend a local attorney. They met and fell in love at first sight at Miss Julia's house, so who more appropriate to handle their wedding especially since their busy schedules barely allow them time to get married and have a quickie honeymoon.
If you like sweet love stories, filled with nice people with good intentions, you'll like this story, and it has a happy ending.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

Dead as a Scone & The Final Crumpet by: Janet and Ron Benrey

Royal Tunbridge Wells is a real place in Great Britain, but the museum is a work of fiction by this writing team. However, they fitted a charming tea museum into a charming setting.
I recommend that you read these two books one after the other, the story flows.
You know the old adage you shouldn't fall in love at work, well it shouldn't apply here. Felicity Adams a woman with a degree in food chemistry, several tea books published and an extensive knowledge of tea is hired to be the head Curator of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Tea Museum. Nigel Owens is the acting head of the same museum after the last head man retired.
Felicity aka Flick to all her friends and Nigel make a perfect couple. Their strengths and weakness mesh, their combined credentials allow them to be a wonderfully modern amateur detective team.
In each of these books the welfare of the museum is in jeopardy, so of course, there is always a deadline that has to be met which gives the stories pace.  Flick and Nigel step up to the plate to save the museum, the employees, and the pets, they have come to think of as family.
Two good reads, with two interesting mysteries that get solved and two happy endings.
I just love a mystery solved and a happy ending.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

The Sherlockian by: Graham Moore

I finished The Sherlockian last night. For fans of Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle, you'll find this a very fun read.
Mr. Moore goes from present to past, present to past with a deft hand. He handles the language of both eras to perfection. There are real places and some real people, but the general gist of the story is fiction, but not very far into the book you feel it's all real.
There is a new fresh take with a good twist on this present and past tale.
I recommend that you pick this one up for a good Sherlockian read.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

Bryant & May Off The Rails by: Christopher Fowler

A riveting mystery with murder and a twisted game involved . After our detectives get their Peculiar Crimes Unit reinstated for almost sure with funding even, they find that they have one week to find and arrest the mysterious Mr. Fox whom they have already had in the custody, but true to his alias, he manages to break out of the holding room and kill the newest member of their unit.
The game is afoot now--no pun intended--because as some other crimes are committed the team has added another 6 suspects to their list.
Working with a deadline this turns out to be one of their most convoluted cases ever, but have no fear the team continues to work together even though they think Mr. Bryant is pretty kooky sometimes.
The case gets solved in the nick of time with lots of action and reactions in by all parties concerned.
Mr. Bryant and Mr. May bring their years of life experience on and off the job to this intellectual murder mystery series.
You should add this series to your To Be Read Pile is you are a murder mystery fan, but I personally would recommend that you start it from the beginning and read through to get the full impact of everyone's personality involved in these stories.

Happy Reading,
Beverly G ♥

Bryant & May on the Loose by: Christopher Fowler

I started reading The Peculiar Crimes Unit series by Christopher Fowler late in 2010 and with any series that you like you become attached to the characters.
This time we find Bryant & May the main detectives and all their team scattered. The Home Office is trying to shut them down. Everyone is worried about Arthur Bryant because he won't see anyone or take any calls. John May and the team have halfheartedly tried to keep in touch. They just need a good murder with a seemingly unsolvable puzzle attached to get the powers that be to reinstate their unit.
Mr. Fowler comes up with just the situation they need. We love the eccentric Bryant and the down to earth conservative May. They may be getting older, but they still have what it takes to inspire their team of misfits to pull together to solve this latest crime for Queen and Country.
By the end of the story, the run down offices they have chosen for their head quarters will be their new home and Mr. Fowler has left us with the crime solved but the killer on the loose, so of course, we want to immediately read the next book in the series. Fortunately, I have it already downloaded on my Kindle, so I'm off to begin Bryant & May's next adventure.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

A New Year--A New List

The Scottish Prisoner---by: Diana Gabaldon

This is the latest book in the continuing saga of the Outlander and Lord John Grey series.
I found the Lord John Grey series on my own, but I came late to the Outlander series through a friend of mine. The fans of the Outlander series are passionate about these novels. They talk about the characters like they are real people and now that I have read them, yes, they do become like real people.
Ms. Gabaldon is a writer who grabs your attention from page one of any book or novella she is writing. I know some of you out there would not like these books, but that goes with all writers and genres, we all have our favorites. Needless to say, I am now a big fan of Ms. Gabaldon's.
Lord John Grey has come into possession of papers left to him by a former friend and lover, but we have to keep that part on the QT. He has taken the papers to his brother Hal, who is high up in the government, to see if they can use the papers to expose an officer who is discrediting the army. As you read these books you will come to know that Lord John and his brother are big on honor.
In reading through the papers they discover a poem written in Gaelic, I'm using the modern term for the language, consequently they feel they need to enlist the help of Jamie Fraser, who is a prisoner on the estate of Helwater.
This is another book filled with adventure, plots, plots to be foiled, and the continuing exploration of the relationship between Lord John and Jamie Fraser.
As usual, if you are a fan, when you finish reading one of Ms. Gabaldon's books you are left with the thought, when is the next one coming out.

Dragon and Judge & Dragon and Liberator by: Timothy Zahn

These are the last two books in this series. I have enjoyed this adventure through the galaxy Mr. Zahn has created for us.
The adventures of Jack and Draycos, their developing relationship as Jack gets used to having a full time symbiot, and their race to save Draycos's race from their enemies and the super weapon Jack and "Dragos must  destroy keeps you reading.
I must say when Alison  came into the story Mr. Zahn really keeps you guessing about her. Then when she acquires her own symbiot dragon, Taneem, you start rooting for her to be on the good guys team.
I had to read all the way to the end of the last book for all the details that Mr. Zahn kept us guessing about throughout the series, but I must say he tied all the loose ends very neatly together and left us with a happy ending. Which you know by now--I love happy endings.
Even though this is billed as a Young Adult series, I found it to be a fun read with just enough sci-fi techno stuff to keep the adventure true to that genre.
If you decide to read this series I think you will find it to be a fun read.

Happy reading,
Beverly G ♥

The Orchid Affair by: Lauren Willig

It is with a heavy heart that I close the last page on this fun series because the next one doesn't hit the shelves until February 2012.
We went to France this time with Laurie Grey, Governess, recently recruited spy for the Pink Carnations group.
Laurie is tired of being a governess, but low and behold that's exactly what the Pink Carnation needs Laurie to do. Infiltrate Andre Jaouren's household as the teacher of his children while she's looking for information to foil the latest plot that the Pink Carnation has discovered.
However, Laurie is the daughter of famous parents and as that comes to light and she reunites with old friends she still has to keep her new purposes a secret.
We can't forget Eloise and Colin in all this either. Eloise is our intrepid researcher still trying to pull her dissertation together and enjoying her new boyfriend at the same time. Before she and Colin can enjoy some romantic one on one time in Paris they have to meet Colin's mother and her 2nd husband who also happens to be Colin's cousin. Yes, you will have to read the books to get the whole low down on that.
This was a fun adventure through the streets and countryside of Paris and as usual Ms. Willig has given us a happy ending.

Happy Reading,
Beverly G ♥