The Karma of King Harold - Richard Audry

Big, ginger and pretty hairy, the affable King Harold seems to have developed a penchant for finding trouble rather than causing it. A typical day may include chasing a pesky squirrel, a cold bath or hitting the jackpot and being able to rummage around a few rubbish bags which hold a smorgasbord of cold hamburgers, pizza...

But much to his owner's, Andy (Anders) Skyberg chagrin, the friendly mutts discovery of a dead iguana is a step too far. However, the death of  Adonis isn't his fault. Adonis' owner Trudi Bock - a new age, tree hugging, crystal hanging Eleanorian - doesn't think so and is livid.

Unbeknownst to Harold, he has uncovered a hate crime. With Andy's girlfriend, Sheriff Cass Conlin taking charge and keeping an eye on Turdi, who is keen to rekindle the romance with Harold's owner, Andy is suddenly catapulted into a world of murder, federal agents, arson, God-fearing woman, slander and a pesky ebelskiver recipe that his sister is after. Who is behind the ousting of the bohemian Trudi from the New Bergen town? And will Andy ever get that quiet life he's after?

With its assortment of eccentric characters, humor and canine antics, this murder mystery is an engaging read. Anders is a laid back person but with Harold sniffing out danger/crime he's unlikely to get any peace. The subplots of hunting down recipes, rosemaling and conspiracy theories add to a well thought out novel. And the easy going style of the authors writing makes this story a definite page turner.

Unsure of how a dog gets involved in crime, I quickly found out and found Harold and his master a great duo. The descriptions from Harold's point of view is perfect - you can imagine that's how a dog would think. The mystery itself is very good which will make any avid fan of this genre guessing until the final few chapters. A book for those who love dogs or not. A recommended read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author to review. The opinions expressed are my own and I am not required to give a positive critique. 

Trusting Again (Book 4) - Peggy Bird

Walking into a restaurant with friends to catch up and bumping into the man who set her heart racing, was the last thing Cynthia Blaine expected.

He's a walking cliche - tall, dark and handsome. Marius Hernandez had it all and Cynthia was caught up in his appeal. Unfortunately, he had a girlfriend. After all that's how they met, he bought the handmade glass Cleopatra necklace for this lucky woman. Imagining she was some tall, lithe, stunning beautiful woman, how could Cynthia compete?

Marius hasn't forgotten the first time he met Cynthia. He dropped huge hints that the necklace he was buying was for a friend. Did she take the hint? Keen to meet her again he was unsure how to, especially as his work took him away much of the time - being in the coffee business was hard work. He can't believe his luck when he sees her approaching the table.

Convincing her over a cup of java, Marius takes Cynthia on a date. It soon blossoms into a hot, passionate liaison but try as he might, Marius can't break down a barrier that Cynthia is intent on keeping up. Why does she seem to embrace their relationship one minute and then pull away the next?

Cynthia is convinced that Marius is out of her league. But the more time she spends with him, she sees that they have more in common than she first believed. Yet, she dated someone like him before - wealthy, handsome - and it didn't turn out so well. Can she trust her heart to this Adonis? Or will she end up taking that walk down heartache lane again?

The fourth in the series, Bird's 'Second Chances' set of books continue with another absorbing, romance filled story. With the original characters from the series popping up, it set an immediate comfortable background scene. Cynthia and Marius' burgeoning relationship starts off sizzling with passion and just intensifies. The author has captured the essence of budding love and has created another engrossing story.

Another brilliant chance to meet the people from the Portland, Oregon area. This time around the focus is purely on a couple whose strong attraction leaps off the pages. An utterly romantic, sensual story with little interference from the outside world. The fears faced by Cynthia are genuine and as 'cliched' as Marius is, he has an appealing charm that endeared me to him. A highly recommended read for anyone after an 'old-fashioned' romance with the volume turned up.

Read the other reviews: Beginning Again, Loving Again and Together Again

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author to review. The opinions expressed are my own and I am not required to give a positive critique. 

The Winnowing Season ( Vines & Orchard : Book 2) Cindy Woodsmall

After suffering a few setbacks - namely vandalized farmland and then a tornado - Rhoda Byler along with Jacob King, his brother Samuel and Rhoda's brother's family, they make the decision to move to Maine.

The speculation of Rhoda's strange actions - she can sense things - doesn't sway Jacob's affection for her. In fact he's more than willing to stand by her side. Samuel, the main business partner with Rhoda is struggling with his emotions. The Byler woman is headstrong and opinionated but has amazing horticultural knowledge. Without her, the orchard in Maine wouldn't survive. Oh and he's fallen in love with her. And try as he does, his feelings just develop.

When an Englisch woman Sandra, from his brief spell outside of the Amish world, suddenly calls asking Jacob for help, the new life he hoped for Rhoda and himself swiftly takes a downward turn. The story he had hidden from everyone has surfaced. How much does he tell Rhoda? Will she understand and want to still make a life with him?

As Sandra's troubles take him away for lengthy periods, Rhoda's thoughts become clouded with voices, music and the phrase 'tell them'. What does it mean? Will she find the answer in Maine? Her support came from Jacob's calming demeanor, but he's hardly around. And why does Samuel, whose friendship she values, seem to keep pushing her away? With so many questions abound, will this new settlement for the Amish prove successful?

Second in the series, Woodsmall's glimpse into the Amish life is complicated, spirited and makes for compulsive reading. Each of her characters are full of life all with their own battle which when brought together in a new Amish settlement seems to pronounce their nuances further. Family life is strong, but strained at times, yet they manage to overcome through their faith and desire to make the orchard succeed.

It took a little time to get into the story as it's a follow on from Book 1 (which I have yet to read) but the author did a good job of giving a synopsis without rewriting the first in the series, so it's not difficult to catch up with. The story line is well thought out, its characters well defined. I enjoyed the interaction between them and the authors style of writing made them seem very real so much so, I was rooting for Samuel and Rhoda to realize their true feelings for each other. The author leaves the story on a cliffhanger - of sorts. But it's still a whole story. A recommended read.

About the author: A New York Times and CBA best selling author of numerous words of fiction, Cindy's connection with the Amish community has been featured widely in national media and throughout Christian news outlets. Read more

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Blogging for Books program part of WaterBrook Multnomah publishers. The opinions expressed are my own and I am not required to give a positive review.

Crimson & Clover - Juli Page Morgan

Katie, a young free spirit, lands in swinging sixties London to start over. Apparently her ideals of having a white picket fence home and a family (which she didn't have growing up) is not appreciated in the flower-power headiness of San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury. It turns out it's not as radical a place as she thought. Katie feels that perhaps Ladbrook Grove is the place to re-group.

There she meets Adam; and in the essence of 'free love', they get together. Unfortunately, Adam now thinks Katie is the one. And when she asks about a rock group's lead guitarist, Jay Carey (whom Adam is friends with), the enamored man is more than reluctant to make introductions.

Eventually, Jay and Katie happen. But their relationship - passionate, loving and consuming - is threatened by both their past histories. The lifestyle of a rock star takes some getting used to - it really is sex, drugs and rock and roll. And, although Katie is the only one for Jay, his adrenaline sees him carrying out acts that betray his commitment and their relationship.

Despite looking the other way, can Katie accept Jay and his ways? More importantly will he want to be with her once he learns the truth of her past?

An inviting romance, Morgan's novel of the heady sixties in vibrant London is packed with emotion, intense love and passion. Katie and Jay are almost the perfect couple but throw in past lives and things are bound to go a bit askew...and then some. The glamour of being in love with a member of the band is not all i'ts cracked up to be. The characters met along the way have a wonderful depth and are believable. There are touches of humor and the author has used British colloquial language to reinforce the "difference" in American and English speak - a nice touch.  If you're looking for a romance that has all consuming love with lots of drama, this is the story for you. A recommended read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book to review from the author. The opinions expressed are my own and I am not required to give a positive critique.

Blood Money - Doug Richardson

Steal some blood plasma from Reno, drive to LA, get it shipped overseas, collect a million dollars and then head off to Ireland for a friends wedding. A simple enough plan for ex-marine Greg Beemer - or so he thinks.

Lucky Dey, Kern County detective gets a phone call waking him from a migraine filled sleep with news that his younger, not so lucky, brother has died. The only clue that they can go on is a black on black refrigerator trailer.

Conrad Ellis, a multi-millionaire entertainment tycoon, mourns the sudden loss of his daughter Pepper Ellis, an up and coming teenage starlet, but wants justice. In fact he demands it. Will the ambitious federal attorney Lilly Zoller be the one to help him?

Rey Palamino, pool guy, is doing a favor because the ex-marine asking knew his sorely missed dead son Danny.

LAPD Detective Lydia Gonzales aka Gonzo, is told to babysit the Kern detective. She's disgruntled not only because she's missing out on flying lessons but she quickly realizes that the short haired, tough cop is 'hell bent' on revenge.

Six people lives become entangled in an escapade of guns, bombs and miss-information. In his quest to deliver the goods, the ex-marine leaves behind a trail of destruction. Will the various government departments apprehend the elusive Beemer? Or will Lucky live up to his name, catch the felon and finally lay his brother to rest?

A story of 'best laid plans', Richardson's novel is a roller-coaster of thrills as each decision made from the different parties effects the outcome. The story is dramatic from the very beginning and keeps you on the edge throughout the entire venture. Each of Beemer's actions and reactions are gutsy yet methodical and almost well thought out. With Rey's sudden jolt of conscious turning the whole journey upside down - can Beemer reach his destination with his precious cargo in tact?

A brilliant, bold adventure is had on the hot streets of LA. With ironic morality, the plot weaves a complex picture of these people's nuances, battles and inner demons (to a lesser extent). Even though there is no real hero, I found myself rooting for Beemer to make it. And along with no hero, the characters met are not particularly likable but have been written with great depth and vibrancy. The style of writing is conversational, easy and with an edge. The author has created an enthralling and unpredictable story that kept me captivated to the very end. A highly recommended read.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Doug Richardson is the author of three previous novels including True Believers and Dark Horse. He is a well known and respected screenwriter and credits include Die Hard 2 : Die Harder and Money Train. He writes a popular weekly blog and lives in Southern California with his wife, two children and four mutts. Learn more about Doug

I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. The opinions expressed are my own and I am not required to give a positive critique.

God Painted Us a Rainbow - Katrina Streza, Illustrations by Lisa Graves

Illustration : Lisa Graves

This colorfully depicted children's book describes the types of weather and seasons seen throughout the year.

Composed in a poetic form, it is simply written in a style that any young child will be entertained by and adults will enjoy reading. It would make a great bed-time book.

The accompanying illustrations are happy, using a vibrant kaleidoscope of colors, creating great imagery for the poem.

A lovely book that is sure to delight young minds. I expected to read why God painted us a rainbow, but it's a book more on seasons and hints at not allowing another flood to happen again. Regardless, a cheery recommended read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. The opinions expressed are my own and I am not required to give a positive critique. 

An Immense Loss to the Writing World

James Herbert OBE 1943 - 2013

James Herbert, one of the greatest horror writers died on Wednesday 20th March. 

There are many authors that make up the horror genre, but by far my favorite is James Herbert. His ability to turn the most ordinary of events into a chilling, sometimes gory plot was magical. 

I started with 'The Rats' when I was about 18. Nineteen years later and I just read the latest, 'Ash'. From that first novel, I was hooked. Each story - be it 'Lair', 'Shrine' or 'Portent', Herbert gets your attention from the opening page. His artistry was building that apprehension of the old Hammer Horror films, with a few eerie, blood-soaked moments to tantalize until the climatic ending. 

Do I have a favorite novel? So hard to decide. They're all chilling, creepy and disturbing in their own right. Yet it was ''48' that stood out for me. Perhaps because it touched on Hitler and the Occult so there's an essence of truth to the premise of the story; but more than anything else, it was the totally unexpected ending that over ten years after reading, it still remains with me. Herbert's ease of injecting humor and brilliant insight into nature of humans was always spot on and each of his novels always left you wondering 'what if that really happened?'

James Herbert is one of the very few authors in which I have read all their books and liked each one. I've ventured to read his peers, King, Koontz; but none met (in my humble opinion) the eloquence and perfect balance of horror, ordinary life and humor. The writing world has lost a truly gifted author James Herbert OBE, Master of Horror.