3.25 stars - Reviewed for Wit and Sin

Murder, mystery, psychics, auras, and a hint of romance make for a great combination in The Vanishing. Jayne Ann Krentz has kicked off her Fogg Lake series with a fast-paced, engaging story.

Decades ago, “The Incident” happened in Fogg Lake; an explosion in the caves that released gases and gave the residents and their decedents certain paranormal abilities. Catalina Lark grew up in Fogg Lake, but she and her best friend, Olivia, make their living as investigators in Seattle. When Olivia goes missing, Catalina learns that it’s due to a murder both witnessed in Fogg Lake when they were teenagers. The only person Catalina can trust to help her find her friend is Slater Arganbright, an agent from the secretive Foundation. Catalina and Slater have an instant connection and it doesn’t just come from them both having supernatural skills. They clicked perfectly, making it easy to fall into the rhythm of the story as they hunt kidnappers, killers, and unraveled a mystery that began before they were born.

The Vanishing moves at a quick clip and because it’s the first book in the series, Ms. Krentz throws out a lot of information. I won’t spoil the story by revealing anything, but there are mysterious organizations, multiple players with competing agendas, and quite a few point of view shifts, some of which will likely be important down the line in the series. Because of this, there’s a lot of exposition and I wish there had been more show than tell, especially near the end so the developments felt more organic. The world building and mystery are enough to keep the story going strong and Catalina and Slater are great central characters, so it also would have been nice to see their relationship develop over the course of the series. Instead the romance felt almost shoehorned in and was so rushed that it wasn’t quite believable at the end. This isn’t to say I didn’t like the book – I actually really enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to what happens next – but it was missing much-needed depth in some areas that would have made the story shine.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

It's closing in on mid-year, and I'm back with another set of random ramblings for books I've read this year that I hadn't really gotten around to reviewing before now.  Of course, I also went ahead and threw in a couple books I just finished reading that I just couldn't really come up with a review for.

Without much else to say, let's just move onto the books!

Thanks for reading!

Shelter in Place
by Nora Roberts
Rating:  3.5 Stars

I actually read half of this book in December 2018 and the last half in January 2019.  That's a good six months ago, about, and I don't know if I remember much about it.  Nora Roberts tackles a pretty difficult subject with this book, something that we can relate with in the present.

While I think she does a pretty great job of it, the only thing I really remember was how dragged out it felt.  The beginning was pretty strong, and the idea of taking a look at how a mass shooting affected several survivors has potential.  And I get that she was trying to cover how the lives of certain key characters changed as a result of the mall shooting at the beginning of the book, but I can't help but feel like some tangents could have been cut out.

In a way, I recall thinking that the main villain of the book was a bit too over-powered... like, movie-style over-powered.  And I had issue with the main hero's constant innuendos, even if jokingly, about dumping our main heroine and getting together with her grandmother, if given the chance--I get that this was some silly running joke, and he wasn't actually ever going to do that, but the references got old pretty fast.  Yes, the grandmother was a fabulous person, but we didn't need that brought up every other paragraph.

Otherwise, Shelter In Place was a pretty intriguing read that managed to suck me in at some points, even if it also had my attention wandering at others.  This book is more slice of life and crime thriller than it was romance, so if you're coming into it looking for lots of romantic chemistry or the like, you won't actually get much of it.  Still, Nora Roberts delivers as usual, so I would skip it if you're a fan of hers.

Lethal White (Cormoran Strike #4)
by Robert Galbraith (a.k.a. J.K. Rowling)
Rating:  4.0 Stars

I'm not sure I've yet to properly review one of these Cormoran Strike books, if only because I'm not sure I have proper words for Queen Rowling's wonderful works.  Truth is, I'm immensely enjoying these crime thrillers, and absolutely love Cormoran and Robin as a working private investigation team.

While I still feel like The Silkworm is the best of the books so far, Lethal White doesn't fall very short of the genius-ness of this series.  Of course, that doesn't mean that I think Lethal White was perfect (not like The Silkworm was perfect).  In fact, I'm admittedly abashed to say that this particular installment might have been a bit overly long with some parts that dragged a little for me.  Not the mysteries or the tangential mysteries or the investigations, but the continued dragging out of Robin and Matthew's relationship, which I felt could have maybe been cut a little.  In fact, I could have sworn that I thought their relationship would have been over by the last book, so I was a bit surprised to walk into the book to find them getting married at the beginning.  I must have phased that out of my mind from the end of the previous book.

As I'd mentioned somewhere else, we already know that Robin and Matthew are all wrong for each other and that Matthew is a right jackass--we don't really need to be reminded of this for 80% of the book.  But maybe it was kind of symbolic that Robin needed to be reminded of why she was slowly falling out of love with Matthew.  I just wish that part of her reasons didn't have too much to do with her muddled feelings for Cormoran.  It's enough, I think, that Matthew is a jackass and that he's disrespectful of her decisions, her choice of career, her thoughts and opinions, and her happiness, right?  I needed her to leave Matthew and move on with her life for herself, not because of another man--that's probably the only thing that bugs me about this book, really.

Untouchable (Cutler, Sutter & Salinas #3)
by Jayne Ann Krentz
Rating:  4.0 Stars

This book didn't really stand out among the rest of JAK's books.  And I even sense a little bit of recycling in some of her plot devices, a la the lucid dreaming aspects.

However, it was still another charming, exciting, and entertaining Jayne Ann Krentz book, and I had no real complaints.

I did find it fun that JAK chose to crossover some parts of other books and other series.  The location of this book is Eclipse Bay and we get to see Arizona Snow featuring quite prominently.  Then the tourist town of Burning Cove is brought up as well.  I was almost expecting some Arcane Society characters to appear out of nowhere, specifically the fearless leader of Jones & Jones... though I suppose you can only really have one set of broody alpha male private investigators appearing at a time...

Murder on Astor Place (Gaslight Mystery #1)
by Victoria Thompson
Rating:  3.5 Stars

This book started out kind of slow, in spite of the murder, but quickly became interesting.  Sarah is a great main character to follow, with all the makings of a fearless, headstrong main female lead.  Frank on the other hand, took some warming up to, as he started off a bit rude, a bit broody, a bit chauvinistic, and a bit seedy.  I'm still not sure I like him much, and he plays into the typical cozy mystery male love interest trope of being Detective Jackass...  But he grows on you.

The mystery was interesting to start with, but I hate to say that the ending kind of got more and more convoluted... and you could see it getting there pretty quickly as the book progressed.  But otherwise, it was entertaining enough.  New York during the "turn of the century" is a new kind of historical setting for me, but I'm not sure I felt it any different than I felt something more modern or something more historical... if that makes any sense.

Nonetheless, I may continue with this one in the future.

The Scarlet Pimpernel (The Scarlet Pimpernel #1)
by Emmuska Orczy
Rating:  4.0 Stars

This book was so much fun, and if it hadn't been for the need to prioritize my reading time and my socializing time, I probably could have finished this book in less than half the time it actually took me.

While the story started off a little bit slow--partly so I could adjust to the language and the dramatics--once we get to Marguerite Blakeney's POV, everything just sort of takes off from there.  The progression just kept plowing forward, and the action kept right on rolling out.  Of course, the ending was a bit abrupt, and also a bit predictable, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment at all.

I'm going to be honest, I've never been able to really get along with a lot of classics, but if there are others out there written in the same vein as this book, I'm going to have reevaluate me reading lists, as well as my personal history with classics I've read before.

Dangerous
by Amanda Quick
Rating:  3.0 Stars

Another enjoyable Amanda Quick book... if you can overlook the pushy, asshole hero who is Sebastian.  Goodness, if I were Prudence, I probably would have given into temptation and kicked him in the shins.  As grudgingly loving as he can be, he's also a stubborn mule and grumpy enough to test anyone's patience.

Then again, this is quite typical of Amanda Quick heroes and heroines.  You've got a broody alpha with eccentric characteristics who is both pushy and bossy... and then you've got the feisty heroine who is the only person not intimidated by the hero, even if she gives into him every time.

Maybe one of these days, we'll get a heroine who will put her hero in the corner and forbid him anything until he learns to play nice with others, and stop being so darned bossy and manipulative.

Oh yeah, the I think the mystery was actually quite intriguing in this one as well, though I'm hard-pressed to recall much about it except that I found it most enjoyable.

Seduction
by Amanda Quick
Rating:  3.5 Stars

This book was full of all sorts of Amanda Quick goodness as well as a heroine I ended up really, really loving.  Aside from how easily Sophy allowed Julian to get away with his demands and manipulations, I found Sophy an extremely wonderful heroine.  She was straight forward and kind, but not too kind to stand up for herself whenever Julian crossed the line.  I loved her arguments against Julian's haughty and arrogant, "This is not a subject for women," lectures.  That she kept poking holes in Julian's traditional views of a woman's role in marriage and society, and that she kept right on being herself was truly excellent.

I'd say that this was one of Amanda Quick's better novels, as far as I've read of her books, and really brought to light the double standards and unfairness of how women were treated with each of Sophy's arguments.  I highlighted a bunch of passages, but I'm not sure I'll be able to fit them all without stretching this post out for too long.

Meanwhile, this book IS full of standard tropes and formulaic plot devices, but I'm not going to let that bother me.  And also, I never really warmed to Julian--he stops being an ass at some point, but I didn't bother to really pinpoint when.  Sophy was the real winner in this book!

Ever Strange (Legal Magick #1)
by Alisa Woods
Rating:  3.5 Stars

While there might have been some plot holes, or even a few scenes that really made me raise my eyebrows, I actually DID find Ever Strange an extremely fun read.  Just as I'd enjoyed a few other books by Alisa Woods, I did also enjoy this book quite well... if it's any indication, I got myself drawn in and hooked and finished this book within hours of starting it.

The premise is a great one, and while I don't really read a whole lot of urban fantasy, I found that I enjoy the world created in the Legal Magick series so far, and am interested in following through with the next book.

Also, there is a lot of talk about sex magic...  (This was one of the things that had me raising my eyebrows... while at the same time becoming fascinatingly intrigued about.)

The Sittaford Mystery
by Agatha Christie
audio book narrated by Hugh Fraser
Rating:  3.0 Stars

Hmm...  Not being a prominent reader of Christie mysteries, nor of classic mysteries, I'm feeling that I must have missed something.  I've only read about three other Agatha Christie books, and this one, by far, is my least favorite.  I'm not sure it really did anything for me.

Nowhere during the investigation did I feel like I really understood its status.  The sparse few Christie novels I've already read always made me think... but I had a hard time with that during this book.  Maybe I wasn't paying well enough attention?

The truth is, the best part of this book was Hugh Fraser's narration.  And Mrs. Percehouse was quite fun, too.  But otherwise, that was about it for me.

Tightrope (Burning Cove #3)
by Amanda Quick
Rating:  3.0 Stars

One of the things I kept thinking while I was reading this book, was that there were way too many characters to keep up with.  And only a few of them are really significant to the main plot.  Also, instead of focusing on the main couple, we also backtrack to a a scene or two involving Luther Pell and Raina Kirk, the main couple from the previous book.

While this was an enjoyable Amanda Quick, much like any of her historical romance/mysteries, it certainly doesn't stray far from her typical formula.  Except that she seemed intent upon using multiple POVs, even if everything is still written in third person.  I just didn't feel like we needed that many other characters' narrations.

The book also finishes on a rather open-ended note, which makes me wonder if we're sticking with a trilogy, or if this trilogy is a precursor to another series that may follow in the next few JAK publications.  It certainly DOES connect itself to the Arcane Society books by bringing in the psychic Jones family, so that's something I'm actually kind of intrigued about.

Booklikes-opoly 2019

I read this book for BL-opoly 2019.

Roll #2:
Square: Mountain Cabin 16 | Read a book that is considered mystery/suspense genre, or which has a title that contains all of the letters in the word C-A-B-I-N.

How it fits: Book is tagged mystery/suspense.
Page Count: 320
Cash: $3

Run to Ground (Rocky Mountain K9 Unit #1)
by Katie Ruggle
Rating:  3.5 Stars

I guess I hadn't expected the content in this book to be so heavy.  On the other hand, the romance and the story that followed Jules and her siblings also lent a heart-warming, giddiness that made me enjoy the book overall.

I guess, in a nutshell, the book was entertaining enough that I would definitely follow the rest of the series.  But at the same time, there were a lot of loose plot threads, including one of the main ones, involving Jules, her secret identity, and all the secrets that she and her siblings are keeping.  It just feels so unsatisfactory, the ending, and anyone who doesn't like cliff hangers may not be amused by the way this book ends.  It's not really a cliff hanger, per se... just a really, really open-ended conclusion that I feel like could have been handled a bit better.

I wish we could have seen more of Viggy and Theo learning how to trust each other, and learning how to form a partnership.

Booklikes-opoly 2019

Roll #3: (See Also Roll #3 Activity)
Square: The Lake House 20 | Read a book that features a dog or which has a dog on the cover, or that is set in an area known for its lakes or on a fictional lake.

How it fits:  Dog on the cover.
Page Count:  416
Cash:  $5

Under Kalinda Brady's cool silk surface was a smoldering heart waiting to be set afire. But she hadn't expected the sparks to fly with Rand Alastair, artist and fisherman, the stranger whose caresses left her yearning for more. Kalinda had come to Colorado determined to avenge a lost love. She had arranged the set up, and her ex-fiance had taken the bait. But she was shaken by Rand's powerful embrace, torn between her passion for revenge and hunger for this lover who conquered her heart, stole into her world and proceeded to make it his own.

Goodreads.com

Two years ago, Kalinda Brady's father died, leaving her CEO of his data processing firm. Engaged to be married, her fiancee dumps her when he finds out the company is heavily in debt and possibly in danger of being liquidated. Not long after the split, Kalinda gets word her ex-fella has run off and married another business woman with quite a bit more wealth than Kalinda's family ever had. Kalinda then spends the next two years working her tail off to get the company back in the black.

Now that the company is doing quite well again, Kalinda has a chance to carry out her revenge plot. She reaches out to her ex, luring him into agreeing to a romantic mountain getaway weekend. Only, romance is the furthest thing from what she's after. She knows this guy hates to be humilated so that's exactly what she sets out to do. But until that meetup time, she's got a couple extra days in the small resort town outside of Denver where they agreed to meet up. It's there that she meets Rand Alaistair --- potter, art gallery owner, fisherman, maybe local lothario?

He's certainly handsome enough to be a nice distraction but the last thing Kalinda is looking for is to be someone's weekend fling. But once Rand sets eyes on something he wants, his determination is unwavering. He gets Kalinda to agree to dinner with him one night, which --- no surprise --- turns rather hands on once the plates are cleared. The deal isn't entirely sealed though. Kalinda, though she might feel a "passionate curiosity" towards Rand, isn't interested in casual, easily dismissed hookups, so she distances herself for the rest of the evening. But Rand won't be deterred. He gets her to agree to a picnic the next day, where she tells him of her revenge plans against her ex. Rand quickly calls the idea stupid and dangerous and does everything in his power to stop her from following through. She eventually agrees with his logic, decides not to go through with the plan. But when she gets back to town, who's ready with news of a merger attempt on her company ... but her ex!

Just when she's at her wit's end, fearing she's about to lose her father's company and there's nothing she can do to stop it, good ol' Mr. Persistent, Rand, shows up at her door with a plan to save the day. Turns out he's no country bumpkin fisherman but actually a cutthroat businessman well versed in company takeovers, and he's pretty sure he knows exactly how to save the company and win Kalinda's heart for good.

This story isn't going to be the most popular read with much of today's female audience, I'd wager. Rand is pretty persistent, borderline too forceful in his attentions toward Kalinda. Even though she herself admits behaving in a "my mind says no, my body says YES" manner, she vocalizes no a lot, which Rand tends to push through til she says yes... which these days could spark quite the discussion on date rape / rape culture... but let me clarify here and now that Rand never takes it that far. When it seems like Kalinda is being coy, he continues to push. When she without hesitation firmly says no, he backs off and calmly gives her a ride home... which I think makes all the difference in whether one can like this character or not. 

There's still the dated, sometimes cringe-inducing dialogue / interaction between these two (this story was originally published in the 1980s) but honestly, I find that's part of the fun of reading these more vintage stories... being able to step back and laugh and praise the advancements we've made. 

I'm not writing a review for this one, so I'll be using this post to link to in my next Snakes and Ladders post.