Fantasy and Mystery

I really enjoyed "Darkship Thieves" by Sarah A. Hoyt. This author's range is amazing.I like her books about the paranormal shapeshifters set in Goldport, Colorado and the titles by her as Elise Hyatt also set in Goldport. This one is about a wealthy young woman who comes to in her father's space cruiser as one of his guards is apparently about to tranc her. She manages to escape in her nightgown into the powertrees only to end up the captive of one of the darkship thieves. She will soon find her entire universe is turned upside down as she comes to know those who have been declared the enemy of the human race is revealed to be more humane than those who she has grown up with. Action and fun dialog makes this a great read.
Earlene Fowler's newest title, "State Fair" made me realize that California fairs are different from Montana county fairs in numerous ways and the very same in many others. This mystery involves racial tension with the new manager of the fair - an African American man and those who don't want "his kind" in charge. Plus the Ebony Sisters Quilt Guild's showing of traditional African American quilts that is cosponsored by the folk art museum where Benni Harper is the curator. The added tension and humor comes from her great aunt Garnet who has come for a visit and is really into cop shows. She decides that she and Benni will be the ones to solve the murder that they discover at the fair.
Laura Anne Gilman has started a new series on Paranormal Scene Investigations - P.U.P.I - Private, Unaffiliated, Paranormal Investigations. These have been alluded to in her Retriever series and this series starts with the beginning of the group. Five twentysomethings, all magic users, who are hired to a career in forensic magic. The action is great and the smart-alack dialogue pretty typical of that age group. I'll be anxiously awaiting the next in the series.

Finally back to typing!

I broke my little finger on my left hand on Easter Sunday morning and spent six weeks with various splints on that hand. One handed typing is not the way I want to keep up with blogging. Finally able to take a shower without a plastic bag over that hand and now I'm getting back on track with my cleaning. Hope to get back to my beading in the next week or so. I've got at least five ornament patterns waiting for me - beads and all. Rebecca Hubbard gave me two ornament trees for my birthday/retirement and I need to get something on them - like that's the only excuse!
I got the latest Monkeewrench novel and couldn't stop reading until I had finished it. The FBI has recruited the computer geeks to help them find the persons responsible for a series of murder videos posted on the Web. Soon the Minneapolis police detective Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth have a bride in the river whose death is being shown on YouTube. There are some character changes that I'm not sure about. Guess I'll have to wait for the next book.
We were lucky enough to attend an author event that the library sponsored for their book clubs with Craig Johnson. What a fabulous afternoon that was! He's so easy to talk to and tells such a great story. Harry found the newest book at a half-price bookstore - three weeks ahead of the release date!!! We've all gobbled it up. Love Dog, Vic, Henry, Ruby, Lucian and all the others. Wish we didn't have to wait a year for the next book