An old standby dissapoints but a new discovery delights!

I have read all of Sue Grafton's alphabetically titled books books from A to U and enjoyed them. So I was really happy to pick up V is For Vengeance last week. It was such a disappointment. I didn't enjoy it at all and halfway through, I decided to bail out. Even worse than that, I decided to read the last chapter and couldn't even finish that! Enough about that sad turn of events.

On a fabulous note, I discovered Gail Carriger. OMG- I love her style! It just makes me so happy!

The first book in the Parasol Protectorate series is Soulless. What initially caught my eye besides the cover was the description on the front which said " A novel of vampires, werewolves, and parasols."How could I not be intrigued with my love of historical fiction? I just had to bring it home. I am so happy that I did! Ms Carriger is witty and cheeky! Her heroine Alexia Tarabotti is fearless and yes, soulless. At first it reminded me of books I have enjoyed by Amanda Quick. A mystery and a great victorian heroine. Then it took on some Sherlock Holmes type characteristics and even a little element of James Bond with fantastic weapons, gadgets, and inventions. Steampunk can be so much fun!
Love the dim witted best friend, Ivy! Love, love, love the flamboyant vampire confidante. I could rave on and on but I don't want to say too much and spoil the surprises inside!

The second book is Changeless. Loved it as well! That one was about vampires, werewolves, and dirigibles!

I just picked up the third installment of five, called Blameless which of course is about vampires, werewolves and unexpected surprises. It seems as if Alexia's life is a bit upside down in this one. Can't wait to see how it plays out. I am already dreading getting to the fifth book because that will be the end of this series but happily Gail Carriger is hard at work on another series called Etiquette and Espionage. Hooray!

Discovering a new (but not really new) author makes me so very happy!

 

Working in a library gives me a fantastic opportunity to have book after book run through my hands every day. Heaven!!!  Once in awhile, I come across a title that catches my eye and hit the jackpot. :-)

I have seen books by C.J. Box come across the counter before, but never picked one up. For some reason, Back of Beyond jumped out at me and after reading the jacket, I decided to give it a try. I was hooked from the first chapter. I quickly learned how flawed the main character was and I do love me some messed up characters!! It doesn't hurt that the setting is Yellowstone Park, a place I have visited many times while living in Idaho. As I read, I felt shades of Nevada Barr and John Sandford coming through. Two of my absolute favorite authors.  I finished this book in just hours and hurriedly logged onto the library website to see what other books I could pick up by C.J. Box. Score!! There are two more stand alone books like this one and a series with soon to be eleven books featuring a Wyoming game warden and a lot of twists and turns.

Right now I brought home the two stand alone books, Blue Heaven and Three Weeks to Say Goodbye. then I'll dive into the series. Ahhhhhhhhh..... it is so nice to have a solid lineup of books to go to.