Carol's Notebook

The Last Coyote is the third Harry Bosch book I've listened to, although I've been going through the series out of order. In this one, Michael Connelly gives us more insight into Harry's past and how he became who he is. Harry is not in a good place at the start of the novel. His girlfriend has left him; he's living in a house that is comdemned due to earthquake damage; and he's suspended from his job with the LAPD for attacking a superior officer. In order to get back on the job, he has to see the department's psychiatrist, which he of course resists at first. Remember, he's the tough guy. Eventually he does trust her and start to open up to her. He also comes to the decision to use his "time off" to work on the case that has haunted him all his life. When he was 12, his mother, a prostitute, was murdered, and after looking through the...

It's been a while since I read a fun, light, sweet romance and Always a Princess by Alice Gaines fit the bill perfectly. Our couple, Eve and Philip, fit together perfectly. Eve is jewel thief. She's masquerading as a foreign princess to get invited to all the fashionable parties in Victorian London, and during the festivities she makes off with the jewelry. She doesn't see many other options in life, after her former employer destroyed her reputation. Philip, however, does have other options. He is a viscount after all. But he's bored stuck in London and becomes the Orchid Thief, stealing jewels from the nobility and leaving orchid blooms in their place. The two meet at a party and Philip knows right off the bat that Eve is no princess, but he plays along. She, of course, discovers his secret life, and he, of course, discovers how much he is attracted to her. Alright, it's a little formulaic, but I enjoyed it. Philip's...

The Amish way of life has become a fertile ground for novels and mysteries, but to be honest, A Plain Death by Amanda Flower is the first book I've read that features the Amish. I have to admit to having some pre-conceived ideas about the Amish, though. I live in Ohio, the state with the largest Amish population and at least a few times each year visit Berlin and Walnut Creek, both in Holmes County Ohio, one of the largest Amish settlements. For me, Amish country means great food, I love the mashed potatoes with noodles on top, fun shops, jams, bread, and the occasional farm tour or buggy ride. Now, my husband's thoughts on the Amish are slightly different, but his come from dealing with them as a part of a job he used to have. We also had some Amish folks in our county make the news last year, not in a flattering way. You can read about our "rogue Amish" here. In...