As previously stated, I’m a genre junkie. There are a number
of series – romance, fantasy and mystery that I follow quite religiously. The
genre appeal differs by reader but for me I love the familiarity with the characters
and the world they inhabit. Opening the pages of another book in a series
continues a story in which I have been previously engaged and reading about the
characters is like coming home to visit old friends. It’s comforting.
Having said that, there are times when it is time to part
ways with a series and move on. Again, that point is different for every
reader. I’m usually done when the author makes narrative choices that make me
deeply unhappy or the characters are stagnant and tell the same story over and
over again with no growth or development. I recognize writing a novel is an
author’s creative expression and they have the right to do as they wish with
their story. But, when they take the story places that don’t make for the satisfying
read I am craving, I say good bye, wish them well, and go off in search of
other reading adventures. A few series that I have loved and lost are Outlander
by Gabaldon, Stephanie Plum by Evanovich and Anita Blake by Hamilton. I respect
these authors and their talent. I fondly remember the earlier novels in the
series but I’ve not been able to continue for a variety of reasons.
As genre readers, I think we all get to choose when we are
done with a series and move on to greener literary pastures.
Today I’m sharing a few reviews of series I am still
enjoying. While they may not be a sparkling and engaging as the first book or
two, I still find them a grand escape.
Leverage in Death by J. D.
Robb
As 47th in a long running series, there is a certain familiarity
to an Eve Dallas novel. We know Eve will be professional, work until she
exhausted and care passionately about the victims she stands for. Her husband
Roarke will be on the sidelines buying the known universe and using his high
tech toys and expertise in helping solve the current crime. Along the way there
will be a familiar cast of characters to add humor, camaraderie and reflection.
I freely admit to loving the first 12 books in the Even Dallas series – they
are dark, gritty and surprisingly passionate. The stories, while maybe not the
best written, are interesting and engaging. And unpeeling the characters of Eve
and Roarke is half the fun. After the first dozen, they are a mixed bag. Some
are too violent, some are predictable or unimaginative. Yet others are
interesting, intense and compelling. I continue to read them because
J. D. Robb
(a pseudonym of Nora Roberts) has made characters in whom I have become deeply
invested over the years. Whatever the story brings, I want to check in with Eve
and Roarke.
Leverage in Death is one of the better installments in the series. When
an executive walks into a merger meeting strapped with explosives and blows up himself
and half the staff in attendance, he causes chaos. And while death and destruction
make headlines, Dallas quickly discovers he was protecting his family. With the
help of Roarke, ; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Eve must untangle the reason for an inexplicable
act of terror, look at suspects inside and outside both corporations, and
determine whether the root of this crime lies in simple sabotage, or something
far more complex and twisted.
Overall,
this was an engaging read. The story was interesting if a bit predictable and I
enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery. I recommend this one but encourage new
readers to go back to the beginning of Eve and Roarke’s journey and decide how
far they want to travel with the couple.
Archangel’s
Prophecy by Nalini Singh
Elena Devereaux
is unique among angel kind. She is a mortal made immortal. And with her
glorious wings and natural Hunter abilities, she is a fit consort for an
Archangel. But now, her wings are beginning to fail and she is becoming more
mortal and more fragile. As other calamities ripple throughout the world, a
furious battle is being fought for her very survival.
Archangel’s
Prophecy is the 11th installment in Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter series.
Although the book tells a complete story on its own, readers will enjoy this
one much better and avoid spoilers if they have read the previous books in the
series.
Elena and Raphael
are compelling characters and while all the stories in their world are fun to
read, the novels where they are front and center are the best. While Elena
struggles to understand what is happening with her newly immortal and
increasingly fragile body, strange occurrences are happening worldwide. These
incidences seem to suggest Cascade events are dangerously on the rise. Most of
the novel almost feels like a mystery or police procedural as various
characters try to discover what is going on all over the world. But by far the
most compelling element is Elena’s mysterious sickness.
Archangel’s
Prophecy was a highly entertaining to read and the cliffhanger ending similar to
the first novel, Angel’s Blood, will
surely frustrate fans and leave them clambering to know how these beloved
characters have evolved. A fun paranormal romance and highly recommended for
fans of the series.
4 stars.
I received an ARC
of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Someone to
Trust by Mary Balogh
It’s all just nice. Colin Handrich, Baron Hodges is nice. He’s the
brother of Wren, recently married Countess of Riverdale. Elizabeth, Lady
Overfield is nice. She is the widowed sister of the Earl of Riverdale. Both of
these nice people meet at a family Christmas gathering at the Earl’s seat,
Brambledean Court. Colin is ready to take up the reins of the family estate he
inherited at the age of 18. Elizabeth is ready to remarry and perhaps move on
from her disastrous marriage. Colin and Elizabeth are friendly and attracted to
one another but can see that a relationship between them would be impossible
given the difference in their ages. They strike up a friendship and agree to
dance one dance at every ball they are both attending during the upcoming
season. It’s all very nice.
Once in London, Colin prepares to find a bride on the marriage
mart and Elizabeth enters an engagement with a nice man who offered for her
several years earlier. And then social disaster happens and Elizabeth is faced
with ruin and Colin wants to rescue her. Additional peril faces the couple and
with the help of their family, they overcome. It’s all very nice.
Honestly, I really enjoy Mary Balogh’s works. She has wonderful
characters and charming stories. I enjoy the Wescott family series. Someone to Trust is a fine and pleasant
story. However, I felt that the characters lacked great passion and were harder
to connect with than others in the series. Also, the peril seemed a bit
contrived and lacking in, well, peril.
Fans of the series will want to read this installment. 3 stars.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an
honest review.
