'Debt of Bones' by Terry Goodkind

I found Legend of the Seeker on Hulu Plus and gave it a try. The slightest hints of humor got me to keep watching (the old naked man with the chicken was too weird NOT to keep watching). Then I found out this TV series was based on books.

I went to the library and found Debt of Bones (Sword of Truth, #0) by Terry Goodkind, which is a prequel to the Sword of Truth series that the TV show is based on.

Unfortunately, Debt of Bones didn't impress me. It actually read a teensy bit...juvenile in one sense, despite the gore that I really didn't appreciate. I'm one of those people that keeps reading even if I don't like something. (Thank God I did because one absolutely despicable part was explained satisfactorily.) This is a small book and a quick read and in this case, that's a wonderful thing.

I like the show (which I've heard didn't follow the novels enough for some fans) but I just did not like Debt of Bones; not the writing or the gore or the story. I did like the characters in the book. Except for the main character. I found her single-minded and irritating. She did carry the story forward, though, which usually doesn't happen when the main character is so annoying.

I was all set to read Wizard's First Rule (Sword of Truth, #1) but after Debt of Bones, I brought it back to the library and got some cozy mysteries instead.

I will say that I've since read other reviews of Debt of Bones (far be it from me to stomp on a beloved author) and a big chunk of diehard fans of the Sword of Truth series and of Terry Goodkind didn't even like it. Some said it doesn't do the Sword of Truth justice.

Knowing that gives me hope. I'll probably get Wizard's First Rule again someday. Not anytime soon, though. There are just so many other books out there, waiting to be read!

What An Animal Reading Challenge VI 2013

I've signed up for the 2013 What An Animal Reading Challenge VI hosted by Yvonne at Socrates' Book Reviews Blog.

In this Reading Challenge, you have to read six books with at least one of the following requirements:


a. there is an animal in the title of the book


b. there is an animal on the cover of the book


c. an animal plays a major role in the book


d. a main character is (or turns into) an animal (define that however you'd like)    

Right now I'm reading Tarzan of the Apes which fits all the above categories, but of course, this challenge is only 2013. (Challenge V has already started, and it ends at the end of February but I don't think I could read another five books along these lines by then!)   This'll be a fun one - there are enough options to fit that I should be able to find six books in the course of a year.

Cruisin' Thru The Cozies 2013 Reading Challenge

I've signed up for the 2013 Cruisin' Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge hosted by Socrates' Book Reviews - can you believe it's almost 2013?!

The 2012 Cruisin' Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge was the only Challenge I beat. This year was rather disorganized and distracting.

Things in my life have settled down to a dull roar; my health is under control, the Blueberry (my sister's baby) is born, we've all moved and a routine is starting to descend upon us once again. (Thank goodness!)

I'm going for Level 3 Super Slueth again. That's reading 13 mysteries in 2013. I can do that with my eyes closed. Well, not really since this involves reading...

I picked the following books for the You Have The Right To Remain Silent Reading Challenge hosted by Charlotte (Buried in Books) at Goodreads and both challenges allow crossovers.

Cruisin' Thru The Cozies tentative list:

1) Sherlock Holmes & The Veiled Detective by David Stuart Davies
2) Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Holmes by Loren D. Estleman
3) Appointment With Death by Agatha Christie
4) Evil Under The Sun by Agatha Christie
5) Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie
6) Ghost of a Chance (coming out February 5, 2013) by E.J. Copperman
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Review of Die Buying by Laura DiSilverio

Die Buying by Laura DiSilverio




Die Buying is the first of the ‘Mall Cop Mysteries’ and the cover has a picture of a Segway in a mall. As a lover of ‘cozy’’ mysteries, I thought this set up would make for a fun read and it did. EJ Ferris is the main character, an injured war vet who just wants to be a cop but can only get a job as a mall cop. Various people delight in reminding her of her duties which include giving mall patrons directions and watching the security cameras, not investigating the murder of an unpopular local businessman she found nude in a display window.

I liked the book but for me, it went a little slow in the middle. EJ kept thinking about the murder and tried to put the pieces together but with no real movement until we got to the end. I liked the humor, I LOVED the grandpa and other interesting characters EJ is surrounded by. (I adored EJ’s view of her cat!)

As an animal lover, I was nervous how the book started with a reptile escape and hoped the author wouldn’t disregard or harm those animals in the course of the book – she doesn’t so don’t worry about that.

I’m interested in the second book to see how the author handles the now-established characters and setting. I found EJ to be believable and strong and I never felt sorry for her - though I did feel for her - despite her injured condition. That’s a fine line the author treaded beautifully.



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Kobo - 'Honeymoon Homicide'

Honeymoon Homicide is #210 in the Kobo eBookstore in the 'Mystery & Suspense/Women Sleuths' category.

I don't usually look at rankings but I was adding links and double checking that they worked when I happened to see the number at Kobo.

It's very exciting!

(UPDATE: I just found out it was at #195 last month. How cool is that? In the top 200 list!)

99¢ - 8,383 words

Ella is awakened in the middle of the night by her new husband. But it's not what you think – he wants her to solve a murder. At 4 a.m. Can she do it? Or will she add another homicide to her honeymoon? This is the second story in the Ella Westin Mysteries.

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