Stone Devil Duke/K.J. Jackson/262pgs

Set in London, this book is about a woman named Aggie who witnesses her father being murdered and sets out to kill her fathers killers. One night while out trying to find some of the men she comes across a Duke, who helps her fight off some of the men and save her life. Hoping that that would be the end of it, she drops him off and goes home. But she soon realizes that she will not be able to get rid of him that easily and the two make a deal to work together to find the remaining men. As the story progresses the two eventually come to realize their true feelings towards one another and they get married. But the peaceful life they thought they were going to have comes to an end when the leader of the group of killers kidnaps Aggie and tries to slowly kill her. This book was one I could not put down until i finished it. If you are someone that enjoys romances, thrillers, adventures, and a strong female character this book is definitely worth a read.

Persons Unknown/ Susie Steiner / 312 pgs

This is the second of Steiner's books about Manon Bradshaw, a police detective in Cambridgeshire, England. I really enjoyed the first one. Here in this second book, the characters are drawn just as realistically--warts and all--as in the first, but I felt the plot was lacking. All of the suspense elements seemed to be by-the-numbers and I was easily able to guess which way the story would turn next. It was interesting to see where Manon and the other recurring police officer, Davy, were in this book, which is set about a year after the first. But I was very upset with the way Manon's adopted son was treated in this book. His story line was left maddeningly unresolved, even in the epilogue, and I can only hope that his story will feature in the next book.

Anna and the Swallow Man / Gavriel Savit / 230 pages / 6 discs

There are many books out there about World War II. Some are written for children while others are for adults. It is rare to have one crossover to where both audiences find gratification.
 The story begins in Krakow, Poland during 1939. The war has affected Anna and her father's lives and they have adjusted. He is still teaching his classes but then is taken. Anna is utterly alone. While waiting in the street for her father to come, a man stops in front of her and asks in several different languages "who are you?"
  This is the Swallow Man - as in the bird - and instinctively Anna trusts him. That is not to say he doesn't scare her but there is a quality to him that gives her hope. The Swallow Man begins his walk out of the city and Anna follows him. There are no words exchanged, no gestures but Anna has decided this man gives her a chance at living.
  What follows are their adventures wandering the countyside of Poland and into the Soviet Union tracking the invading German soldiers. Not all is fun and games. The Swallow Man teaches Anna the rules of staying alive and he also tries to teaches her about life. The plot becomes less important at this time and the journey seems to turn allegorical. The birds, the "Road", the conversations all help Anna toward an ending. What kind of ending? You must read the novel.

6 Degrees of Reading: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse, The Mystery of Hollow Places by Rebecca Podos.

The Star-Touched Queen / Roshani Chokshi / 339 pages / 8 discs

  This novel makes me wish I had a better understanding of Indian mythology and folklore. I thoroughly enjoyed the book but at times I felt I was missing something. Like there was an underlying text that would explain why our heroine Maya did what she did. The author has such wonderful descriptions brought to life by the narrator, Priya Ayyar who brought a world full of sensual mystery. I just wasn't sure I was catching the entire story.
   We meet Maya who has quite the unfortunate horoscope. Her marriage will be one of death and destruction. Her suitors are few to none and the harem where she resides view her with distaste and suspicion. She loses herself in the scrolls of her father's library where she also learns about her father's kingdom by hiding in the rafters above his throne room. The kingdom has been at war and her father has arranged for Maya to marry one of the warring tribes. It is during this ceremony a sneak attack surprises her and Maya is whisked away to safety by Amar, who is a king in his own country.
   What happens next is beautiful, enchanting and awe-inspiring. The pictures brought to mind are spellbinding. This is a great read for someone who likes fantasy, strong female protagonists and adventure in foreign lands.
   The second in the series has been released: A Crown of Wishes

6 Degrees of Reading: Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton, And I Darken by Kiersten White, Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones.

Mockingbird, Vol. 1: I Can Explain / Chelsea Cain / 136 pgs

I'm not really into superhero comics, but was excited to see a new female superhero.  Also, it was written by Chelsea Cain, who writes the bestselling Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell series.  If you have not read this series you I'll let you know it's about a psychopathic female serial killer.    So basically "Mockingbird" is about S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and former Avenger, Bobbi Morse, as she goes on a few missions, from deep sea diving to uncover a secret nuclear facility, to saving her current boyfriend from an underground gang.  Bobbi has super powers because she is part of a government experiment which is also causing her mind to hallucinate.

The story-line was fair, but again I'm not really into superheros fighting bad guys page after page.  I do like that she is a strong female heroine with personal and mental issues like everyone else.
The writer Chelsea Cain cancelled her twitter account after receiving a lot of harassing tweets from male comic book "fans" commenting on her pro-feminist stance, which really only makes me want to recommend this book even more!    (http://www.comicsbeat.com/bestselling-author-chelsea-cain-driven-off-twitter-by-harassment-from-comics-fans/).

Rat Queens: The Far Reaching Tentacles of N'Rygoth (Vol. 2) / Kurtis J. Wiebe / 112 pgs

Love this series!  If you like strong female lead characters, this comic is chock-full of feminine bad-assery.  In volume two, the town is under attack by three demons that warp the characters sense of time and reality.  This causes the the main leads to flash back in time giving the reader a chance to explore a little more of their backstories.  Not surprisingly, they are all dealing with past hurts and identity issues.

A great followup to the first book, and I can't wait to read more!

Rat Queens (Vol. 1) : Sass and Sorcery / Kurtis J. Wiebe & Roc Upchurch / 108 pgs.

Not even sure where to start with this one.  So, "The Rat Queens" is a pack made up of four tough-as-nails, rude, loud-mouthed, booze-guzzling, bar fighting, female warriors; who live on the fringe of society and are paid to help keep even worse elements out of the town.  There is Hannah the Elven Mage and pack leader, Dee the Atheist Human Cleric, Violet the Hipster Dwarven Fighter, and Betty the Hippy Smidgen Thief.  In this introductory story, someone is killing off the gangs that are protecting the town.  Will the Rat Queens discover and stop the assassin in time? and who is really behind this plot to oust the gangs?

What you get with this comic is something sassy, funny, rude, irreverent with strong Female lead characters and a lot of gore and violence.  I really enjoyed this new series and if you don't mind language, violence, drug humor, and adult situations in your graphic novels then this is one to pick up!!

Final Appeal / Lisa Scottoline 269 p.

Final Appeal / Lisa Scottoline 269 p.

Lawyer, single mom Grace Rossi needs this job as a law clerk for a federal appeals court judge.   She doesn't expect a huge case involving the death penalty to land on her desk.  Nor does she expect a love affair with her boss.  But both do.  And when her lover commits suicide, she is caught unawares.  She feels in her gut that he would not have committed suicide but that he was murdered.  His death leads to the perception that he was involved in judicial bribery and corruption.  She gets involved in finding the murderer.  When she becomes a target, she realizes that her gut was right and that it is murder.  She has to find the evidence.   Scottoline creates strong feisty women with the ability to get in and out of hot water.