Who Slays the Wicked by C.S. Harris (MYS Har)

London.  1814.  The very end (hopefully) of Napoleon.  And Sebastian St. Cyr is called in to help solve the vicious murder of a sadistic young lord.  Many factors complicate the investigation, not the least of which is the fact the Lord Ashworth's widow is Sebastian's beloved niece who just might be a suspect in the murder.

As Sebastian investigates, he finds more and more suspects, more people who are lying to him.  And more deaths.  Could it be the Russian princess attached to the retinue of the Grand Duchess of Russia?  Or the furniture maker (and other merchants too numerous to count) who was owed a huge debt by the now dead lord?  And what about the fortune teller whose daughter committed suicide after being raped by Lord Ashworth?

This is the fourteenth book in the series and I enjoyed it as much as I did the first one.  In addition to a good mystery and characters I have grown to care for, the author gives the reader a good look at what life was like in England at the beginning of the nineteenth century.  In a subplot, Sebastian's wife, Hero, works on a series of articles about life among the lowest of the low classes.  Ever wonder how cesspits were cleaned out?  You'll find out (and maybe wish you hadn't) when you read this book.

Number fifteen should be out next April.  I can't wait!

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick (FIC Pat)

Since caring for her parents, Martha Storm has lived determined to do good things for others.  It doesn' always make her feel good.  She keeps a list of projects in her notebook and has an elaborate method to track her progress which only reminds her of how far behind she is.  Meanwhile her home has become stuffed with other people's things.  And her efforts to achieve a full-time job at the library where she volunteers have gone nowhere.

One day a book is left for her at the library.  In it she finds a written note to her from her beloved grandmother.  The problem?  The note is dated three years after her Nana died.

Martha sets out to discover what really happened more than thirty years ago.  In the process, she uncovers long-kept family secrets and, finally, learns how to move forward in her own life.

I've read other books by this author and always enjoy them.  This one is no different.  I enjoyed the characters and emphasized with all of them - even Martha's thoroughly unlikable younger sister, Lilian.  The ending was completely satisfying.  I'm looking forward to the author's next book!

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See FIC See

      Lisa See never fails to entertain and enlighten me.  The story begins in the WWII era and ends in modern times.  The background of the book tells us the story of a Korean Island called Jeju.  It is a horrific tale of what these people went through during a tumultuous time of history.
     The main characters are Young-sook and Mi-ja.  Their backgrounds were different but they became the best of friends as they became members of the all-female diving collective.  In their community these women are the bread-winners for their families and the men support them by cooking and watching the children.
The life of these divers is fascinating!  It is hard work and quite dangerous.
      Young-sook and Mi-ja support each other has tragedy after tragedy is visited upon their families and their community.  But there comes a time when their tight bond is cut.
      This book is about a culture, Korean history , traditions and most of all about friendship, family and the difficult path to forgiveness.

White Elephant by Julie Langsdort FIC LAN

         White Elephant can be used in several contexts.  In this book it refers to an over-the-top house, a McMansion, a giant of a structure which  looms over the 'normal' houses around it.
     Willard Park is a suburb described as quaint.  It had quaint homes.  It had quaint traditions.
    Ted and Allison Miller live in a quaint house.  On one side there is now a four story house inhabited by Nick and Kaye Cox. On the other side is Nick's construction project -another White Elephant.  Trees are being cut down to allow more light into these new homes.  And one of those trees is one that Ted had planted after the birth of his daughter.  He is ready for war.
     Tension between the new and old neighbors in the town begin to rise.  Trees all over town are being mysteriously cut down in the dead of night.  Part mystery and part character study, this book is 100% entertaining!

Maid by Stephanie Land 920 LAN

  This is a memoir - and so much more.  There are so many lessons that can be taught from this book.  People who say disparaging remarks about single mothers and  people who are on welfare can get an up-close look at that life.  Young people who live in poverty or become parents unexpectedly can read this book and understand that with enough determination you can change your life.  It isn't quick or easy but it is possible.  People who lead an easy life might be encouraged to reach out and help someone in their family, or in their church, or in their community.  People who have the means to hire house cleaners may be reminded that these cleaners should not be invisible beings!
    Stephanie Land did not grow up in luxury but neither was it poverty.  Like many young women she had a plan- go to college and become a writer.  Instead she became a mother.  The first line of her book is "My daughter learned to walk in a homeless shelter."  How does that not tear at your heart?  There weren't many ways Stephanie could earn money.  With the help of some government programs she was able to survive by becoming a cleaning lady.  She did it for hours on end for years and this book is the story of her life during this period.
      This book kept me so engaged that I read it in a couple of days.  It will stay with me for a long time.

The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion FIC SIM

         This is the third novel in the 'Rosie Series'.  (You need to start with The Rosie Project and then The Rosie Effect).  Where has the time gone?? This book begins with Don and Rosie already ten years into parenthood.  Yes, Hudson is 10 years old already.  He is a chip off the old block.  That means he is having his share of issues.  That is always hard for parents to watch.
      As always, Don has thought it over and come up with a solution.  It would be called The Hudson Project.  It will take friends and family to help improve Hudson's school life.  That will include fighting with the school.  The school wants to have Hudson tested for autism.  If he shows up on the spectrum  the school can hire a one-on-one aide for him.  And it would also give the school a reason to excuse some of Hudson's actions at school.  (My favorite is when he can't resist correcting the teacher's grammar!).  I found Hudson to be a very likable kid.
     This series of books is full of wonderful characters.  They may make you laugh one minute and bring tears to your eyes the next.  Through these characters we can learn, or be reminded of, how difficult it can be to fit into society.

The Blink of an Eye by Rikke Schmidt Kjaergaard 616 Kja

      The subtitle of this book is 'a memoir of dying-and learning how to live again'.  It is a given that none of us know when we get up in the morning what is going to happen that day.  I guarantee that the most pessimistic among us could ever envision a scenario like that which happened to Kjærgaard.  

    A new year is dawning.  She is young, smart (a scientist) and blessed with a husband(Peter)  and kids.  The day is spent celebrating with family and friends.  During the day she was hit by chills.  By that night she has a high temperature and no amount of blankets can warm her up.   Eventually her husband calls a doctor who comes to the house (they live in Copenhagen) and pronounces that, like many people, she has the flu and gives Peter a prescription for Tamiflu.  She was unable to keep it down because she was vomiting and her fever rose.  Peter called the Dr.'s office as soon as it opened. The receptionist called the Dr. who came immediately.  It didn't take him long to summon an ambulance.  Shortly after they arrived Rikke's heart stopped and they began CPR. 

      She was given 5% chance of living.  Peter stayed by her side constantly. When she finally begins to come out of her coma she is basically trapped in her body.  She has no idea where she is or why she is there.  When Peter and the staff realize she is awake they have no way of knowing what is left in her brain.  The only way she can communicate is one blink for yes and two for no.  

     An amazing and miraculous memoir.