Darlene's Digest

The Confessions by Tiffany Reisz My rating: 4 of 5 stars An interesting coda to the Original Sinners books. I didn't list this one primarily as erotica because there's very little about it that's erotic. We delve deeper into the minds of Soren and Nora through the agency of Soren's lifelong confessor, a Jesuit he's known since he was 18 and entered the seminary. The third part is an interview with Ms. Reisz, which will be of interest to her fans. And just for the record, my imaginary Hollywood casting of Soren features a young Rutger Hauer, not a GoT johnny-come-lately. It's my imagination, I can use it as I like.[g] View all my reviews

Imperfect Sympathies: Jews and Judaism in British Romantic Literature and Culture by Judith Page My rating: 4 of 5 stars Fascinating glimpse into the changing view of Jews in British literature, using the acting of Kean's Shylock and the portrayal of Rebecca in Ivanhoe to illustrate how the image of the Jew was changed as writers and poets modified their views of what the Jews were and what they represented. However, as the title says, the efforts were imperfect, and some of the writing contributed to existing stereotypes, or replaced them with other, not always appropriate or positive images. It's an academic tome, but of interest to anyone who's a scholar of Jewish history, particularly in the 19th C. English speaking lands. View all my reviews

Archangel's Enigma by Nalini Singh My rating: 3 of 5 stars The world-building continues to be excellent in this involved series about angels and vampires and the mortals who live in their universe. At first I wasn't enraptured by the premise, even though the initial novel was wonderfully sexy and romantic, but the Guild Hunter universe is evolving and growing, and the love stories are interesting as well. Naasir has been one of the more intriguing characters, because we didn't know what he was. Was he a vampire? A shape-shifter? A shape-shifting vampire? He finds his mate, but there were so many echoes of Singh's other excellent paranormal series that I found myself thinking on occasion that I was in a Psy-Changeling tale, rather than Guild Hunter. But good writing is good writing, and Enigma will be enjoyed by Singh's legion of fans. View all my reviews

The Museum of Extraordinary Things: A Novel by Alice Hoffman My rating: 4 of 5 stars New York City in the beginning of the 20th c. was a place of robber barons and freaks, showmen and shysters, crooks and ordinary people struggling to survive. Coney Island was in its infancy but already an escape from a stifling city, where people paid pennies to be entertained by the different and frightening, whether it was a thrill ride or a woman born without arms. The protagonists, Eddie and Coralie, have lives that intersect in unexpected ways, but the reader knows they're destined to be entangled together. Her "deformity" causes her to live a life of isolation and dwell in her own world, while his struggle to survive leads him to make choices that aren't always legal, but are true to his own ethical code. They belong in their time and place, a NYC of opportunity and freakshows. One can read about the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire and the horrors of it, but to see it described in ...

Brotherhood in Death by J.D. Robb My rating: 4 of 5 stars I am consumed by envy over Queen Nora's talent in keeping a series alive through 42 novels, each one carrying characters forward with zest and verve. I laughed aloud at some scenes in "Brotherhood", others made me wince, but it held my attention and kept me turning pages. The story is one all too familiar--men of power believing women are theirs for the taking, to be raped and abused without consequence. Eve Dallas stands ready to defend the dead, even when the murder victim is a complete piece of sh*t. The question of "What is justice?" is at the core of this tale, but we also have wonderful glimpses into Dennis Mira, a character who's always been on the sidelines. Of course, new readers should start with the very first novel, Naked In Death, to get the full flavor of the series, but the fans won't be disappointed as old friends are brought onto the scene, and the team races the clock to preve...

The Yid by Paul Goldberg My rating: 4 of 5 stars This novel will not appeal to everyone. The humor is so black it's in the ultra-violet spectrum, and the gore level would satisfy Tarantino fans. However, it's a deep, if bordering on absurd, look into the heart of darkness that was the final days of the Joseph Stalin regime. The Doctors' Plot is little known to the modern community, but in the early 50s it was the first step toward a second Final Solution, one set in motion by Stalin to eradicate the Jewish population of the USSR. Stalin died as the plan was beginning to unfold. Some saw Divine forces at work in this, but Goldberg offers a much more mundane, and entertaining explanation. A handful of elderly Jewish veterans, a black American ex-pat engineer, a young woman with anger issues, all put into place a plan to assassinate Stalin before he can begin the pogrom. I found the pacing of the story a bit awkward, but the references to Kafka (justified) and the theater o...

The Puppy Primer by Patricia B. McConnell My rating: 4 of 5 stars I've been reading quite a few puppy training books this past week, and this one's the pick of the litter. Easy to digest, simple techniques and information. While most dog training is actually training the human members of the pack, The Puppy Primer doesn't leave the humans feeling dumb and inadequate. View all my reviews

I'll be honest. I didn't want a rescue dog. Our beloved Yofi, who passed away in 2014, came to us from a family breeder. We could meet the mama and papa doxies, see the littermates, observe her at play. We knew she came from good stock. With a rescue, I'd be taking a chance. However, I felt an obligation to at least check it out. So a year after Yofi's passing I submitted an application to Florida Dachshund Rescue . I was immediately impressed by their rigorous vetting process for new doxie owners. We had to have references, a home visit, and answer questions about dachshund care and ownership. This was a far more comprehensive process than I'd have received from some breeders. I could be specific in what I was looking for: smoothcoat, under 15 lbs. grown, female, all doxie. After our application was processed I was put on a waiting list, and I knew it could be a while before I found my match. Sadly, older, sick dogs all too often end up at rescue organizations....

Kingfisher by Patricia A. McKillip My rating: 4 of 5 stars Kingfisher...or The Fisher King? If you combine elements of Le Morte de Arthur , the quest for the Holy Grail, Celtic mythology, the three-part goddess, the island of Avalon...and Top Chef...you get Kingfisher , a novel about knights who ride motorcycles and carry cell phones. It's also about love lost and found, and the most amazing All-You-Can-Eat Fish Fry ever. Patricia A. McKillip is one of the top fantasy writers of our generation, bringing new luminosity to the English language. She layers her prose with depth and beauty, and reading her books is a treat. View all my reviews

Stars of Fortune by Nora Roberts My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is vintage Nora Roberts (though it's a new novel). Three couples brought together on a quest, each with different strengths (as one character points out, "We're the Avengers!"). It's easy to see who gets matched up with whom, but that's not the point. We come back to these books for the banter, for the action, and for the well-crafted characters. I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could. I enjoyed it, but it didn't rock my world. View all my reviews

A Talent for Trickery by Alissa Johnson My rating: 4 of 5 stars Very enjoyable, new-to-me author. I liked the characters and will definitely buy more in this series about a family trying to overcome their larcenous past. The intricacy of the plotting kept me turning pages, and the secondary characters brought the story to life. View all my reviews

I left 73F Florida for 19F Boston. The skin on my face (the only exposed part of my anatomy) is whining, "Why do you hate me?" Ah well, it's worth slathering on the moisturizer to spend time with quality people at #Boskone, New England's premier science fiction and fantasy convention.  It's sunny and tomorrow is supposed to get all the way up to 43F so it could be worse. If I can tough out July in North Central Florida, I can handle a few days of February in Boston at  #Boskone53.

I'm heading up to Boston, where the weather is supposed to be above freezing most of the weekend (thank heavens!) That picture was taken in front of our hotel in 2015. Not much could convince me to travel from Florida to Massachusetts in February, but #Boskone  is worth it. It's the longest running science fiction and fantasy convention in New England, a weekend filled with books, film, art, music, gaming and bid parties. You can go to  www.boskone.org   to register, and follow the news at their  Twitter feed  or  Facebook page . I'm confident if we get snowed in, again, there will be enough party supplies that we won't have to draw lots to see who goes in the cook-pot. Actually, the Westin Waterfront has done an excellent job in past years coping with the occasional blizzard and a hotel full of science fiction fans. Kudos to them, and thank you for keeping the bar and restaurants well stocked. Here's my schedule. The (M) means I'm moderating that panel, ...

I did post a few items yesterday in honor of the day, but I didn't post any snippets about true love from my own novels. Here's one of my favorite romantic sentiments:  "And if they didn’t live happily ever after for every single day of the rest of their lives, it must be acknowledged that at least she never shot him while he was sleeping."   -- The Bride and the Buccaneer (winner, FCRW Beacon Award)

Black Wolves by Kate Elliott My rating: 4 of 5 stars An excellent tale of cunning, court intrigue, warriors and love, using an "Asian" rather than "European" setting. Many lives are interwoven as disgraced Captain Kellas of the king's own Black Wolves begins to explore a mystery over 20 years in the making. I loved the characters, especially the elderly women and men who demonstrated once again that age, patience and cunning will beat youth and dexterity. It was enjoyable at a very personal level. What wasn't enjoyable at a personal level, and what kept me from giving it five stars, was the use of anti-Semitic stereotypes and tropes in the portrayal of the Ri Amarah. I believe it was the intention of the author to show what can happen to an outcast people who worship and live differently than the majority population, but the focus on their lust for wealth and talent at trade, their lives in walled enclaves in the cities (ghettos), their being under the ki...

"Assume everyone you meet is armed and itching for a fight. If you see an orange seller on the street in St. Augustine, she’s likely carrying a springback blade in her sleeve. Watch their hands! A shotgun’s easy to spot, but a bowie knife inside a pants leg could be a fatal surprise.” “It sounds like a lawless place.” “You have no idea. --[WIP] WHAT THE PARROT SAW In addition to the shotguns and springback blades, watch out for the other Florida WMDs: FLORIDA MAN HURLS GATOR THROUGH DRIVE-THROUGH WINDOW.

I enjoyed the monthly Writers Alliance of Gainesville meeting where the guest speaker, UF professor and author Dr. Kevin McCarthy, encouraged us to find our niche. I was leaning toward my next project being an American privateer/War of 1812 tale, and I'm going to delve further into this. In the meantime, I'm still editing What the Parrot Saw . As usual, it's a roller-coaster of moments ranging from "Ouch, I can't believe I wrote that!" to "Hmmm....not bad." More on this as it develops. Also, my books are still available through Amber Quill Press until the end of March, at which time they'll be closing their doors forever. If you're interested in all the stories leading up to What the Parrot Saw , I encourage you to fill your ereader and bookshelves now.

Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins My rating: 4 of 5 stars Another winner from Ms. Jenkins, highlighting the lives of African-Americans in the old west. Rhine Fontaine is light enough to pass, a situation that's helped the former slave move through Nevada society, amassing property and wealth. But his commitment to living in the white world is tested when he meets Eddy, a black woman making her way through pluck, determination and her talents in front of the cookstove. Jenkins brings the west to life while shining a light on a part of American history too often neglected in the books and in popular culture. Forbidden will please her legion of loyal fans, and attract new readers as well. View all my reviews

Listen to the Moon by Rose Lerner My rating: 4 of 5 stars Sometimes you get tired of dukes and billionaires and vampires and you want to read a story about people who lead ordinary lives, but can still have extraordinary love stories. If so, you'll enjoy Listen to the Moon as much as I did. This is another "Lively St. Lemeston" Regency by Rose Lerner, set in a small town in the English countryside rather than an exotic locale (like London[g]). John Toogood is a "gentleman's gentleman", a valet laid off and unable to find a new employer after he annoyed a powerful woman. Sukey Grimes is a maid-of-all-work, who catches John's eye with her plucky attitude and saucy smile, but he knows they could never make a go of it, because even in the servants hierarchy they're at opposite poles. But then an opportunity comes along which could benefit both Sukey and John, and suddenly they're seeing each other in a different light. Fans of Bate and Anna from ...

It's that time of year, time for this Florida girl to dig out the snowboots and heavy weather gear, 'cause I'm going to Boston! Not much could convince me to travel from Florida to Boston in February, but it's worth it.  #Boskone is the longest running science fiction and fantasy convention in New England, a weekend filled with books, film, art, music, gaming and bid parties. You can go to www.boskone.org   to register, and follow the news at their Twitter feed or Facebook page . I'm confident if we get snowed in, again, there will be enough party supplies that we won't have to draw lots to see who goes in the cook-pot. Actually, the Westin Waterfront has done an excellent job in past years coping with the occasional blizzard and a hotel full of science fiction fans. Kudos to them, and thank you for keeping the bar and restaurants well stocked. Here's my schedule. The (M) means I'm moderating that panel, and I look forward to seeing you at Boskone5...