Darlene's Digest

The snap of a breaking stick brought her hand to her gun, but it was Jack stepping into the light, and Sophia relaxed her tense shoulders. “See any panthers while I was gone?” “Panthers?” she squeaked. “Large cat, about so high, sharp teeth and claws?” He held his hand up at about thigh height, or what would be substantially higher than thigh height on her body, bringing all kinds of soft, tender, vital parts into a panther’s reach. “There are panthers here?” Jack settled himself next to her, then looked around into the dark. “Panthers, bobcats, alligators…did I forget to mention the blood-sucking bats?” “You are making up that last part!” “You’re right.” He smiled at her. “Mosquitoes, but not bloodsucking bats. Just small bats. If you move any closer you’re going to be in my lap.” -- The Bride and the Buccaneer There's a new kitty in Florida, a rescued, rare Florida panther, Here's some fresh video of this charming native that's guaranteed to make you go, "Awwww...

The Pirate's Secret Baby is set for release in early March, and you can read excerpts at the Amber Quill Press site. The book will be available in paper and all ebook formats from all the usual suspects. Here's a blurb to tide you over until you get to have pirates, and more pirates:  The captain of the Prodigal Son has a deserved reputation as the deadliest (and best dressed) pirate in the Caribbean, but Robert St. Armand’s totally at sea when it comes to “Marauding Mattie”, the daughter he never knew he had. How in the world can he deal with the littlest pirate, one who prefers knife-throwing to arithmetic lessons, and who’d rather be keelhauled than eat her beets? He needs help!  Lydia Burke is living a safe life, separated from England by an entire ocean. It’s exactly what she needs and she’s not going to risk her boring, but secure, position as a governess to consort with pirates, especially one who’s too pretty for his own good or her peace of mind. No self-res...

Rescue Warriors: The U.S. Coast Guard, America's Forgotten Heroes by David Helvarg My rating: 4 of 5 stars I really enjoyed this book whose title says it all. The US Coast Guard is a service that dates back to the founding of our nation. It's always been a mix of fighting force, life saving, research, police work, education, but sadly it's so often overlooked or shuffled from department to department. Now the USCG is under Homeland Security, and only time will tell if the service once sneered at as "The Treasury's pet navy" is in its best placement. The only reason I didn't give the book a five star rating is because I would have enjoyed more Coast Guard history in one volume. I think that story is still waiting to be written. View all my reviews

“I will leave this go for now, miss. Shall we continue with our reading of the life of Anne Bonny?” “Oh yes, Captain Papa! Anne Bonny would never tattle on the crew, would she?” Mattie sat up on her knees, her nightshirt tangled in the bedclothes. “Under the covers with you, so you don’t catch a chill, and then if Miss Burke will adjust the lantern we will read.” Mattie hurriedly climbed beneath the quilt, folding her hands atop the covers and looking like a curly topped cherub, a cherub wanting stories of mayhem and murder. “Now, where were we—did we talk about Anne’s special friend, Mary Read?” Mattie shook her head, her eyes wide. “The other girl pirate, Papa?” “Yes, and we’ll read more of her later. But for now you need to know Mary and Anne were the best of friends. Anne was loyal, and as you say, would not peach on another pirate. More than that, when they were finally captured, she and Mary fought back to back against the seaman boarding their vessel. Anne was not the captain, ...

The Darwin Elevator by Jason M. Hough My rating: 4 of 5 stars I enjoyed it. Solid world-building, interesting SF premise, plenty of action and plot development to keep me turning pages. Character development was the weakest area, but things perked up at the end, enough to make me feel somewhat invested in individual characters. I'm looking forward to the next installment in this trilogy. View all my reviews