I have some unexpected free time, but it's not much, so I'd better work fast to catch you up on the books I've been reading. I'll include a link to Amazon in each book title in case you want to know more about it since these aren't my usual full reviews.
Pedal to the metal time!
#5 in her Alex Carter series.
Rating: C-
My Thoughts: Alex is camping on a beach in Hawaii to monitor and protect hawksbill turtles. When I finished book four, I wasn't sure I'd continue because Henderson had been using a character to swoop in at the end to save the day for Alex, and that annoyed me.
Well, he didn't save the day this time, but I wasn't any happier with Storm Warning. All the information-- while important to those concerned about the wildlife on our planet-- felt like one lecture after another instead of being seamlessly integrated into the story. In addition, Alex turning into MacGyver at every turn stopped being ingenious and started making my eyes roll. Although there are things I do like about this series, I don't think I'll continue.
#3 in The Jane Eyre Chronicles
Rating: A
My Thoughts: I have enjoyed Slan's Jane Eyre Chronicles, and I was happy to see that there's a fourth book. I needed a comfort read, and Christmas at Ferndean Manor fit the bill perfectly.
I loved how everyone gathered together to make this the best Christmas ever, even though food kept disappearing from the pantry.
If you're a reader who likes seasonal reads, this is absolutely perfect for Christmas-- and you don't have to read the other two books in the series first.
#11 in the Posadas County series
Rating: B-
My Thoughts: Visiting the fictional Posadas County, New Mexico, to catch up with the lives of the wonderful characters Havill has created is always a pleasure; however, I found the story to be lackluster. Still good-- especially in the scenes chasing people out in the desert at night-- just not quite up to Havill's usual high standards.
Will this keep me from heading to Posadas County again? Heavens, no!
Rating: C+
My Thoughts: When I was a teenager, I had penpals from around the world, and I loved writing and receiving letters.
Like the main character, Sybil Van Antwerp, those letters were one of the ways I made sense of the world and my place in it. Although I did enjoy watching Sybil's world unfold letter by letter, I never did warm up to her, so the book fell a bit flat for me.
#11 in the Jayne Sinclair Genealogical mysteries
Rating: B
My Thoughts: This is one of my favorite series, and Lee never fails to provide a fascinating glimpse into little-known history.
This time, a family comes to Jayne when DNA results show Native American ancestry. Their family tree-- all of them born in the industrial town of Salford in England-- shows no hint of such ancestry, but DNA doesn't lie.
This is another strong investigation for Jayne, which is slightly marred by a rather abrupt ending.
#2 Jo Jones amateur sleuth mystery
Rating: B
My Thoughts: For me, the main character, Jo Jones, is the star attraction, and there just wasn't enough of her in The Dead Come to Stay to suit me.
More family secrets are revealed in a nice, twisty mystery, although the book is marred by very poor proofreading, which is a shame because Jo is an editor.
My favorite quote (because I identify): "It took her two extra weeks to edit because she kept falling down subject interest rabbit holes." Love those rabbit holes!
Non-Fiction
Rating: B+
My Thoughts: The field of Egyptology would be nothing like it is now without the hard work and dedication of many women. Sheppard brings to light these women's lives and their accomplishments.
Many worked together in pairs because "decent" women simply did not travel alone at the end of the nineteenth century. They quickly learned to work in tandem with the Egyptians and learned their language quickly. Naturally, much more was expected of them than the men. In addition to all their work, these women were expected to be doctors to all as well as hostesses to anyone who wanted to show up for a tour.
They gave tours, wrote bestselling books, conducted fundraising ventures, taught classes, and developed precise cataloguing for the treasures that had been unearthed-- something that had never been done before.
This is a fascinating look into an important part of women's history, and the book's opening made me involuntarily scream. Why? Because the male archaeologists used DYNAMITE to unearth these treasures. I don't even want to think about what was destroyed in the process.
Well, that's it! I'm caught up. Did I tempt you with any of these books? Or did I steer you away from one or two? Inquiring minds would love to know!
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