The Samurai's Daughter: Rei Shimura Mysteries 6

The Samurai's Daughter

(Sujata Massey)

Teaser: In The Samurai's Daughter, Rei has flown to San Francisco to spend time with her parents and trace the heritage of the Japanese side of her family. However, she isn't the only one staying there. Her parents have been hosting a Japanese exchange student with very traditional values who becomes appalled at the fact that Rei's current and past lover Hugh will be staying there as well.

If it wasn't complicated enough, Hugh is working on a very sensitive case against some Japanese power players and one of his clients turns up dead. Also, the Shimura residence is burglarized, and Hugh's car has all its windows shattered. Rei, once again, finds herself in the thick of a dangerous situation that hits closer to home than she realizes.

Short Thought: A decent addition to the series, not the best, but worth the read.

Expanded Thoughts: So, we finally get to see where Rei grew up. Since the beginning of the series, Rei has portrayed herself as a person who struggles with her finances (she works two jobs in Japan) and was raised humbly. When her childhood home is revealed, we are fed a different story. Rei is freaking loaded, upper class freakin' loaded! (No, seriously.)

It threw me for a loop, because of Rei kind of turning her nose at up Hugh's semi-lavish lifestyle in some of the previous novels. (Hugh was born working class and worked his way up the ladder. I say spend it, brother!) Her mother wears designer clothes and vintage designer clothes, and their house is huge and stately. Her parents definitely have the air of members of the upper tier. It shouldn't have surprised as much as it did, because I then realized that the Shimura's would have had to have been wealthy to allow their daughter to get a college degree in Antiquities.

As for the historical element that Massey usually weaves into her novels, it just wasn't there in this one. Granted there was a lot of historical themes introduced, (the abuse of the Filipino women during the war) but it wasn't easy to understand or woven in well at all. I felt like the author could have just put a 5 page historical note at the end, and it would have been better than the blocky forced back story dialogue in some scenes.

As for the romance, it was pretty good. It was nothing spectacular. It was just the usual, "Hugh is trying to make a living, and Rei butts her head in and complicates it all" scenario. Rei bulldozes over him. He charms back into her good graces, all the while there are dangerous happenings around them.

As for the main character, Rei, I find myself liking her less and less with every novel. I find her to be very self-centered, fake, irresponsible, morally flexible, and just down right annoying. (I know, harsh.) She fancies herself the solution to every problem even if she has no place solving it.

In closing, I have read too many books in this series to stop now, but it definitely isn't near as good as it was in the beginning. However, it's still a great and entertaining mystery, so it's worth a read.

Additional Notes: This novel contains mild violence and sexual situations.

Blood Lines: World of the Lupi Series 3

Blood Lines

(Eileen Wilks)

Teaser: Rule has barely recovered from the severe wounds inflicted in the last ordeal, but regardless the government drafts he and Lily to investigate a serious matter. There is rumor of a group of politicians making deals with the devil to further their influence. This mission is so dangerous that the hard-nosed Cynna and the strange Cullen are also drafted to help.

Short Thought: A great continuation of an exciting paranormal romance series.

Expanded Thoughts: This novel was fun. Pure fun. I was convinced that this series wasn't going anywhere, and that it would just be a collection of WAFF-y Lily and Rule scenes. Boy, was I wrong!

The author really opens up the setting in this novel. We are given a deeper insight into the strained relationships between the Were (Lupi) tribes. I love that the author actually has Rule deal with the hardships of his position as heir. Most books build up a character with a powerful status, but they never have him deal with what comes with it. He has to battle with dissenters, finances of the clan, and etc.

We also get some mystery added with Lily's Grandmother, Cynna, and Cullen. Where do their powers come from? Does this open up a new conflict outside of the Lupi in the US? To the public, there is no magic, but it seems to be all over the globe.

I don't want to give too much away, so I'll just say this: these are the most original and complex paranormal romances I have read. They are impossible to predict, and don't fit into any mold.

Additional Notes: This is the 3rd novel in the World of the Lupi Series by Eileen Wilks.

Additional Notes: This novel does contain scenes of mild violence and sexual situations.

Angels Fall by Nora Roberts

Angels Fall

(Nora Roberts)

Teaser: Gourmet chef Reece Gilmore has been traveling nonstop for over a year, and she still doesn't have a destination in sight. Fate intervenes when her car breaks down in the majestic mountain town of Angels Fist. The repairs are serious and could take quite awhile to complete. In other words, she's stuck for longer than she ever intended.

She decides to take a job as a short order cook at the Angel Food Diner to help pay for her car repairs, and to keep her anxiety and restlessness at bay. On her day off, she decides to take a hike to enjoy the wonderful scenery around her. What should have been a wonderful hike turns into a life changing ordeal when Reece witnesses a murder in progress. Now, she is forced to stay in town even longer, and deal with her violent past with which she still struggles.

Short Thought: Wonderful mystery set in a majestic place.

Expanded Thoughts: I think this novel hit a special note with me. It portrayed the small town diner vibe very well. Having worked in many myself, it made it quite special to me. (And it had mountains, you can't beat mountains!)

This was a really good mystery. It was one of my favorite, if not my favorite, Nora Roberts novels so far. The murder plot was genius. Half the time the reader is left wondering if a murder even took place, or if someone is coming after Reece, etc. It isn't predictable in the least, and the supporting characters are brilliant. The novel was also moderately thick for this genre, so it wasn't over before you finish. It developed nicely and hit several different notes.

I don't have any complaints about it really. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a wonderful murder mystery with a perfect mix of romance and personal growth. I look forward to reading it again.

Additional Notes: This novel contains mild violence, dark themes, and sexual themes.

The Soldier King: Dhulyn and Parno Series 2

The Soldier King

(Violette Malan)

Teaser: Dhulyn and Parno run into trouble when they go to deliver a royal prisoner to his captors. By mercenary standards, the prisoner is not to be harmed after they turn him over. The job is never that easy, and the paired mercenaries find themselves personally handling the prisoner.

It is especially trying for Dhulyn and Parno's partnership. The land they have to travel to is part of Parno's noble past. When he is given the opportunity to have his nobility reinstated, Dhulyn can't help but feel nervous.

Short Thought: A great, classic-style fantasy adventure with very interesting characters.

Expanded Thoughts: This novel was a great adventure. It is a nod to the fantasy styles that overran the 1980s, but it has a wonderful contemporary voice that makes it refreshing and different.

We get a picture of Parno's past in this novel, and a deeper understanding of Dhulyn's gift. As the setting develops more and more, I can't help but be immensely intrigued.

[Spoiler Warning]

My only real gripe is that the relationship between the characters confused me in this one. In the first novel, Parno is 'working out his kinks' with bar maids. He and Dhulyn were like family. It didn't seem to me that they were romantically involved. In this one, all of a sudden, those pet names they call each other have new meanings. They are like a married couple. I like both dynamics, but I just wish I knew which one is true. I can't imagine both being true, but maybe I'm just crazy. I just hope that this doesn't turn into a romance novel. There's enough of those out now.

Additional Notes: This is the 2nd book in the Dhulyn and Parno Series by Violette Malan.

On What Grounds: Coffeehouse Mysteries 1

On What Grounds

(Cleo Coyle)

Teaser: With her daughter off to college, Claire is coming back to the life she fell in love with years ago. She is coming back as the head manager of The Village Blend, a coffee shop in Greenwich Village, to make it the most successful coffee shop in town. If Claire has one true love, it would definitely be coffee and the joy it brings to the people who drink it.

The problem is that the owner of the Blend is her cheating ex-husband's mother and could potentially make it a very awkward arrangement. It that wasn't stressful enough, Claire opens the shop one morning to find one of her beloved employee's bodies. Not only does she fear for her other employees, but she fears that it could put the shop that she loves so dear out of business.

Short Thought: An intriguing and wonderful mystery for the modern woman.

Expanded Thoughts: In an effort to get away from the fantasy and the historical fiction genres, I decided to pick up this book and give it a shot. What could be better than a contemporary feminine mystery centered around coffee? If fact, what is better than coffee? Nothing, absolutely nothing.

This series opener didn't disappoint. It delivered a simple, easy to read and follow mystery plot that was like a network television series. Very enjoyable, and not complicated or complex at all.

This book has great characters even if they are a little predictable. (It fits with the cozy mystery vibe.) They relate to real life. We get to see Claire as a savvy businesswoman who has gone through some problems that are very relevant to many readers. We get to experience her strength as she continually grows and battles the obstacles put in front of her. Not only does she have to face her ex-husband, run the shop, and keep her daughter in line, but she has to constantly be available for police questioning and suspicions.

I also love this book because it teaches the reader something that isn't common knowledge. Throughout the story, the author cleverly mixes in information about coffee. She goes in-depth about the different processes, beans, and concoctions. I was thrilled. I have been drinking coffee for over 20 years and I didn't know any of that stuff. (Well, except that Decaf is for crazy people, but that's a given.) The descriptions weren't so long that they became boring either; they were very well done. As another extra, there are wonderful recipes at the back of the book. If you took the notion, you could actually try the same foods that are served in the book. I love to cook and learn, so I thought that it was brilliant.

I'm really starting to dig books of this type. I think of them as Chic Mystery, Betty Crocker Style.

Additional Notes: This is the 1st novel in the Coffeehouse Mysteries Series by Cleo Coyle.