Jarka Ruus by Terry Brooks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A current reading project is reading all the Shannara books my husband has collected for our home library. Jarka Ruus begins the "High Druid of Shannara" trilogy.

Once again, a Dwarf, an Ohmsford, and two Elessedils set off on a journey. This time the goal is to find the magic necessary to rescue a Druid from the Forbidding. Brooks does a great job with the pacing so that the reader continues to turn pages and read his descriptions of the Shannara world as our group trudges through it.

I recommend it to fans of the Shannara world.

View all my reviews

A Serpent's Tooth by Craig Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the most recently published book in the Walt Longmire series, and I looked forward to reading it because I am a fan of the series.

I was intrigued with the beginning investigation of angels who did repairs on the home of an elderly woman. It leads to more questions, and I'm quickly done with the book.

I recommend this to fans of the series. I suggest new readers start with The Cold Dish>.

View all my reviews

Child of the Mist by Kathleen Morgan
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Child of the Mist was free when I downloaded it to my Nook.

This book could be shelved under the category of Romance and the subcategory of Highland Romances. It is also historical as it is set in 1563 and 1564. I could give it three stars for being a historical, Highland Romance. Yet, I take away a star for what I consider to be uneven pacing within scenes, especially towards the end. When I find myself talking back to a book, it is the time to drop a star.

I recommend it to only fans of this genre and this author.


View all my reviews

As The Crow Flies by Craig Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm reading the Walt Longmire series, and I look forward to each of them.

I thought this might be lighter as Walt and Henry are trying to help with wedding arrangements and they are in Montana to look for an alternative site to the one we thought was already booked. Walt and Henry witness the death of a young woman from a fall from the cliffs. Her infant son survives the fall. It may be on tribal lands but Walt is curious enough to help the new tribal police. The real mystery is will Walt use this case as an excuse to miss the wedding when he has already missed so many big events in Cady's life due to cases.

I recommend this book to fans of the series because I think the books should be read in order to enjoy the growth of the characters.

View all my reviews

Hell Is Empty by Craig Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm working my way through the Walt Longmire series, and my admiration for Craig Johnson grows with this homage to The Inferno.

Walt sums up his reason for his doggedness in tracking the killer and his hostages with the thought, I would like to know that someone is coming to help me, and the help is coming NOW and not hours from now when others can arrive.

I agree with the other reviewer who suggests first time readers are not to start the series here. This book is for fans of the series.







View all my reviews

The Wrong Girl by Hank Phillippi Ryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I eagerly anticipated this second book of the Jane Ryland series for I like Ryan's choice of using a female protagonist who excels at investigative reporting instead of the stereotypical amateur. She needs the story and its byline for her career. The ethical standards Jane and Detective Jake Brogan must maintain to keep their jobs and careers prohibit a sexual relationship between the two of them.

New readers can start with this mystery or with the first of the series, The Other Woman.

View all my reviews

Blue by Lou Aronica
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Blue was free when I downloaded it to my Nook.

This book surprised me so its rating went from 3 stars to 4 stars because I can't give half-stars. I thought it was only fantasy and when Aronica spent too much time describing daily life that dropped its rating down from 3 stars to 2 stars. Chapter 20 was a turning point for this reader because it dawned on me that perhaps Aronica was trying for something different from what I previously considered. Perhaps this book should be classified as magical-realism.

I recommend it for both young adults and their parents.

View all my reviews

Awakenings/A Leg to Stand On/The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat/Seeing Voices by Oliver Sacks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book has been in my home library for 23 years before I took the time to completely read it. When I still needed pharmacy continuing education, accredited articles took precedence. I had to wonder why those articles could not be written with a similar narrative style that Sacks uses for his are so much more memorable than required case studies and explanations of mechanisms of actions and drug titrations.

My favorite book in this four book volume was A Leg to Stand on because this personal story conveyed stronger emotions to the reader rather than a more objective viewpoint.

I recommend this book to any reader who has an interest in neurology and neuroscience. While entertaining, Sacks does not write down to the widest general audience. The reader may need the assistance of a dictionary for unfamiliar terms.





View all my reviews