The Truck Comes On Thursday by Sue Hardesty

Publisher:         L-Book

It's never a good thing when the cover of a book misleads the reader as to what is inside.  Even a good story can be lost if the reader is focused on something else.  The Truck Comes on Thursday says on the cover that it is a mystery, but fans of that genre may dispute that fact.

After the woman who was both her police and personal partner was accidently shot by another policeman in Los Angeles, Loni Wagner returned to her small hometown in Arizona and joined the highway patrol.  Loni has come back to a town she hates to try and heal from her loss and to take care of her elderly grandparents.  She is trapped between the cultures of the modern world and the Indian traditions that her grandparents prefer to follow. As Loni tries to adjust to this new life, she is also trying to deal with cases involving a plane crash, coyotes smuggling people across the border and drugs that are killing people.  The need to solve these cases is enhanced by the fact that someone keeps trying to kill her.

The problem with this book is that the "mystery" is not at the heart of it.  Sections about the different crimes spring up at irregular intervals and sometimes seem to be afterthoughts to what is actually going on in the book.  The criminal sections are often rough, flow poorly and are at times confusing.  They disrupt the pace of the book and Loni seems to make leaps to information that isn't supported by what has been told in the story.  There are also long sections from a diary written by Loni's ancestor that don't seem to make much contribution to the story at all.  Why this technique was included is puzzling because the information included doesn't add to the narration.

At the heart of this book is a more interesting story than the crimes that are committed.  There is a great deal of knowledge about the ritual stories told by Indians, how they perceive relationships differently and their vision of how people should interact with the natural world.  When Loni is listening to her grandparents talk about their traditions or explain Indian attitudes, the book is at its best.  Hardesty also obviously knows the geography and culture of the area well enough to make her descriptions very vivid and to give insight into some of the problems that exist along the US-Mexico border.  At times the reader may feel that what Hardesty really wanted to write was the story of that area, with an emphasis on how the Indians have been mistreated and survived.  It is clear that she feels a great injustice has been done and that should have been explored more.  That stronger story is diluted by the episodes that are thrown in about the crimes. 

Because The Truck Comes on Thursday is referred to as a mystery, the reader may be misled and miss the better story.  Mystery fans often complain that books are placed in that genre, but the mystery is a thin conveyance for romance or something else.  That may be the reaction to this one.  If the book is approached as being full of interesting tidbits about Indian culture and experiences, plus a glimpse of life in the US Southwest, it's much more satisfying.  Hardesty could have left out the criminal parts and made a better story because it would have had a totally different and sharper focus.

Hidden Truths by Jae

Publisher:       L-Book

*2012 GCLS Award winner in Historical Fiction

Hidden Truths is the continuation of the story in Jae's earlier award winning book Backwards to Oregon.  While it is a good book, it shows the strengths and weaknesses of a sequel.

This entire book is about people hiding secrets.  "Luke" Hamilton and "his" wife Nora have been living with their two daughters, Amy and Nattie, for over a decade in Oregon, where Luke is a successful rancher and respected member of the community.  No one except Luke and Nora has any idea that Luke is not the man he pretends to be.   Amy and Nattie are struggling to emerge as young women with their own futures, but they are living lives of deceit also.  Nattie is hiding a love that she hopes will be solved by going away to college and Amy has struggled for years to fight the feelings she has for women. 

Into this web walks Rika Aaldenberg.  Rika has assumed the identity of a dead friend who was supposed to be the mail order bride of Phin, a hand on the Hamilton ranch and Luke's surrogate son.  She arrives just after Luke and Phin have left to take horses to the army, so she will spend time on the ranch learning the lifestyle and getting to know the people, especially Amy.  The new life that opens up to her is not the one she was counting on.  When Luke arrives back home, he finds his family in crisis.  The only way to resolve that crisis is for everyone to reveal their hidden truths, starting with Luke and Nora.  No sacrifice is too great for one of their children…or is it?

Jae is an accomplished author who knows how to write long stories and develop characters completely.  The advantage to a sequel is that she knows the characters well and can build on that information to extend the story.  The disadvantage is that information can be skipped over in the assumption that the reader read the first book.  This puts holes in the story that a new reader may not be able to fill in easily.  Another drawback to the book is that, while scenes are well written, they aren't all necessary.  There are a number that don't enhance the story or move it forward.  They show information about the characters that is already known.  For example, how many scenes have to be included to convey the idea that Amy is very skilled in handling and training horses?  What is a good book could have been improved with tighter editing.  A novel of over five hundred pages may be daunting to some readers, especially if they feel like the pace of the story is being slowed down by unnecessary scenes.     

Hidden Truths is easy to read and tells a good story, especially appealing to those who read Backwards to Oregon.  For those who like to immerse themselves in a book, this one fits the bill.  For less patient readers, they may find themselves skipping over passages, but there is still a story to hold their interest.

L.A. Metro by RJ Nolan

Publisher:      L-Book

Kimberly Donovan and Jess McKenna know about betrayal.  Kim was forced to leave her last position at a hospital when false accusations were made against her and her closeted lover refused to support her.  She comes to LA Metro hoping to start over and that her past won't follow her.  Jess McKenna, the chief of LA Metro's ER, is an emotionally closed off workaholic who uses her icy reputation to cover her inability to make a relationship work with another woman.  Jess limits her personal contacts to her sister and her Great Dane Thor.  If not totally satisfying, that has kept her from being hurt again.

Kim is a unique individual though.  Her positive attitude and her willingness to volunteer to be the psychiatric resident in the ER wins over everyone, including a very reluctant Jess.  Slowly they develop a friendship, which is where they both swear they're going to keep the relationship, but it's not to be.  Secretly, each woman wants to pursue something deeper, but neither of them is sure she can open up enough for that, especially Jess.  Each one has made such poor choices in the past that she's not sure she can trust her instincts for the future.

RJ Nolan's ability to develop characters and create plots is showing improvement in each book that she produces.  L.A. Metro is her most complex novel to date.  Underneath the typical romance is a story about how damaging relationships can be and also how they can heal.  Kim shows the same patience building a bridge to Jess that she shows in building bridges between the departments in the hospital.  The struggle that Jess goes through with her intimacy issues is extremely realistic and touching.  These are mature women who deal with situations in a mature manner.  Everything isn't perfect in their world, but they deal with it.  It's nice to read a story where relationships develop gradually, plus confront and deal with real situations.

L.A. Metro is an entertaining story.  Nolan's fans of her previous books won't be disappointed.

The Illusionist by Fran Heckrotte

Publisher:              L-Book

The Illusionist is a good example of a book where everything happens too quickly.  There is the good basis for a story, but there are a lot of holes that needed to be filled in to help the reader understand what exactly is going on.  Heckrotte plans a sequel and may have wanted to hold back some secrets for that book.  The problem is there are questions that should have been answered in this book to increase the reader's comprehension of the story.

Yemaya Lysanne is The Illusionist.  She performs around the world astonishing people with what she is able to do.  What her audience doesn't know is that she is exerting power and control over them that they don't realize.  Dakota Deveraus is an investigative journalist who is trying to uncover Yemaya's secrets.  She thinks she's been hired to do an expose on people who perform stunts and doesn't realize that she is actually the tool of a powerful CEO who wants to control Yemaya's power.  The two women are quickly drawn to each other, so there is no hesitation when Yemaya invites Dakota to accompany her back to her homeland Moldova.  This is an actual country that lies between the Ukraine and Romania, generally in that area more famously known as Transylvania.  When Dakota arrives, she discovers a county true to the stereotypes – thick fogs, mysterious houses, and villagers totally loyal to Yemaya and her brother Raidon, who are treated like the ruling royalty.  There are also wolves that have a connection to Yemaya and serve as her protectors and assistants.   

Agents working for the CEO have followed the women home and there is a madman stalking the village, not to mention various spirits and old gods who come to play a part in the story.  Amidst all of this, plus death threats and attempted kidnappings, the two women find themselves falling in love and discovering that they are soul mates.  The question is if they can survive all of the forces attacking them to establish a life together.

Yemaya and her brother are definitely not human (they say so themselves) and she can communicate directly with the wolves, but it's not clear exactly what they are.  The villagers seem typical of what appears in the Frankenstein and Dracula stories, but they see the Lysanne's as protectors against the monsters, not as the monsters themselves.  The book has a dark and mysterious tone, so you certainly expect something to leap out at you.  The spirit of Dakota's ancestor, who was a pioneer woman on the Great Plains, makes frequent appearances and provides some comic relief, but the "dialect" she speaks is nothing but irritating.  Finally, there is the relationship between the women.  They have hardly met when they realize they are totally in love and absolutely devoted to each other.  There is very little development in the relationship.

The Illusionist isn't a bad book.  There is a story to be read in it, but it needed a little more work to be complete.  Another 15-20 pages would have helped the flow of the story.  There is adventure, suspense and romance.  When you finish the book though, you'll feel like you still don't know the whole story.

Strength in Numbers by Jeanine Hoffman

Publisher:             L-Book

Jay Conway is a successful banker in Philadelphia who devotes more of her time to her job than to developing a personal life.  Thirteen years before she and her best friend Bailey McIntyre discovered they had deeper feelings for each other, but Bailey couldn't deal with the situation and ran away.    Now Bailey is back and not only does she want to reestablish their relationship, but she's hired to work at Jay's bank.  Their boss, Sharon, is deeply closeted and encourages them to be also because she doesn't believe that known lesbians can have a successful career in finance.  Unfortunately, Jay is diagnosed with cancer and for Bailey to be able to take care of her, they have to make their relationship known.  Sharon decides to help them and possibly risk her own career.  The three of them are joined in the battle by Jay's friend Riley who is the golf pro at the country club.  The women are going to fight battles together and support each other as they try to deal with the stresses that are placed on their personal and professional lives.

Hoffman tries to deal with a number of issues in this story, probably too many.  There is the broken relationship between Jay and Bailey, which causes Jay to be distrustful of any other women for years.  That plot line takes an unbelievable turn when suddenly all is forgiven and things go on as if the bitter feelings of thirteen years never existed.  There is a very realistic description of what Jay has to go through with her cancer treatments and it would have made a very thought provoking story.  Or there is the struggle that Jay and Bailey go through to establish their rights as partners both with the medical profession and at work.  Finally, there is the story between Sharon and Riley as they try to reconcile a relationship where one is closeted and the other is an out lesbian.  Any one of these would have been a good basis for a book, but in trying to put them all in the same story, none of them developed completely or got the attention that they deserved.

One unique aspect of the book is that it contains a few recipes at the back for those readers who want to try them out.  Two of the characters like to cook and these are the meals they prepare.

Strength in Numbers could have been developed into a stronger book, but it's a good story.  Be careful which paperback version you purchase.  The first edition had some mistakes that the publisher says have been corrected now.  The eBook shouldn't be a concern.

Looking Through Windows by Caren J. Werlinger

Publisher:       Windstorm Creative (paper); L-Book (e-Book)

Emily Warner moves to Vermont to try and recover from the traumatic events surrounding the death of her partner.  Her partner always insisted that they keep their relationship quiet and unofficial, so there were no legal documents connecting them.  When the partner is injured, her family refuses to acknowledge the relationship and Emily is not allowed to spend any time with her before she dies.  Emily feels that by moving to Vermont to become a college professor, she has a chance to start her life over.  When she meets graduate student Ann Hight, there is an instant attraction, but Emily is scared to trust their feelings because Ann is straight.  Emily is also unsettled because Ann is hesitant to tell her family about their relationship and Emily fears a repeat of what happened with her former partner.  When Ann’s brother conspires against them, Emily flees to Europe to give them some space and time for her to recover from what she believes is another dose of misery.  Just as they are about to reconcile an accident and then a health crisis interfere.  Emily’s future depends on her learning to trust Ann enough to lean on her, but that is a hard thing to do for someone who has had her trust betrayed so badly in the past.  Ann is frustrated because she loves Emily and doesn’t feel she should have to pay for or be judged by Emily’s previous experience.  Whether or not they can break down each other’s walls will determine if they have a future.

Werlinger has produced a better than usual first novel.  The writing is tight, the editing is good and the characters are written to be three dimensional.  The plot flows well, is engaging and holds the reader’s interest.  A couple of scenes are a little contrived, but not enough to detract from the story.  Romance fans will like this book, but it has more development than the typical novel in this genre.  The story goes into depth about the issue of trust and the emotional baggage that can come with it, especially in a situation such as Emily faces.  One way to know that a character is written in a convincing manner is when the reader would like to take that character and slap her for some of the things she does.  When a character elicits that type of response it’s usually a sign of “reality.”

Looking Through Windows is one of those books that gives a reader a very satisfied feeling when it’s finished.

Journeys: An Anthology of Life by A.L. Hotchkin

Publisher:               L-Book

Journeys: An Anthology of Life is a collection of stories about various subjects.  Some are about regular humans and others are about fallen angels, vampires and other creatures.  The themes deal with death, dying, love and the battle for humanity.  The longest story in the collection is about a battle between the angels for the existence of mankind.

This book is perplexing.  The description on the back of the book says that it's about the author's journey through life and that each one shows a window into her world.  A couple of the stories are about normal people, but the bulk of the book is about Fallen Angels doing battle with other supernatural beings and one story is about vampires.  It's not clear how those stories relate to anyone's life.  There's no theme that seems to tie the stories together and sometimes it's not clear exactly what a story is about.  The writing is good, but some of the stories seem obtuse.

Journeys: An Anthology of Life is one of those books that has to be judged by the individual reader.  Each one may find something different to take away from it.

Double Trouble by RJ Nolan

Publisher:                 L-Book

Romance is wonderful, but trust is more important for a relationship to work.

Kris is looking forward to a standing date with her friend to see the first game of the season between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.  Watching the game is almost impossible though because she can't stop staring at the woman sitting near them.  They finally have a chance to meet when both of them end up covered in spilled beer.  It may be a strange beginning for romance, but it works for Kris and Erin.  As they come to know each other better, they find they both have trust issues due to failed relationships and Erin has a further complication.  As a divorced mother of two children, she has to be careful who she lets into their lives.  Kris is great with the children though and even Erin's ex-in-laws are encouraging her to take a chance on forming a new family.  There is a snake in the Garden of Eden however.  Erin's ex-husband is determined to break them up and lying is an acceptable and normal behavior for him.  He wouldn't have a chance except that both women have been hurt so badly before.  If Erin and Kris can't learn to separate the past from what they know about each other, the snake may get what he wants.

Double Trouble is a pleasant story and moves at a quick pace.  The characters are appealing and respond to the situations in very realistic manners.  Those responses provide the tension in the story.  The book is a traditional romance, which will make it satisfying for fans of that genre.  

Bloodlust by Fran Heckrotte

Publisher:                 L-Book

Bloodlust is the second book in Heckrotte's Illusionist series and picks up the story when Yemaya and Dakota have returned to Yemaya's homeland in eastern Europe.  Someone is attacking the local villagers, killing some and leaving others in comas.  As they try to discover what is happening to these people, the women cover a lot of geographic territory while meeting new species and continuing to interact with the spirit world.  Always there are the wolves who serve their mistress Yemaya with loyalty and ferocity.  Ancient secrets are difficult to unravel and often dangerous.

The book weaves together different plot lines and that allows the introduction of a variety of characters, including an ancient species that lives off of human blood (not vampires), gods that have existed since before time began and a voodoo priestess with a decidedly nasty personality.  At times the story seems to be wandering off into random areas, but then they come back together to create a more complete picture of what is happening.

Fans of paranormal stories should find this one entertaining.  It goes from the heavy, brooding atmosphere of eastern Europe to hot steamy nights full of mystery in New Orleans and there are enough other realm characters to keep the reader happy.  Heckrotte's writing has grown stronger as she has progressed.  Since there are unanswered questions at the end of this book, there are obviously further volumes.  It will be interesting to see where she takes these characters.

Backwards to Oregon by Jae

Publisher:               L-Book

Backwards to Oregon is the best kind of historical fiction.  It strives to be accurate.

"Luke" Hamilton has lived her life as a man since she was twelve and has had no problem concealing her gender even as an officer in the US Army.  Now Luke wants to head for the Oregon Territory and start a ranch for breeding horses.  Before the wagon train departs from Independence, Missouri she meets Nora Macauley who is supporting herself and her young daughter as a prostitute and something about the woman impresses her.  Though Luke had never considered the possibility of a family for herself she wants to help Nora start a new life and Luke finds herself not only married, but promising to act as a father to Nora's child.  She's able to maintain her charade as a man by saying that this is a business arrangement and that she has no "expectations" for a true marriage from Nora.  As they cover two thousand miles of trail, they learn to depend on each other as they face various threats and the hazards of the wilderness.  Their struggles bring them close together and a deep friendship forms and eventually tries to turn into something else.  When Nora inevitably learns Luke's secret she has to make some serious decisions about her attitudes toward family, marriage and love.  What is really more important, someone who conforms to society's standards or a person who supplies the support and comforts that you really need?  The answer may not be as simple as it seems.

Too often novels try to bend history to fit the needs of the story.  This isn't a problem in Backwards to Oregon.  Jae captures a real feel for what it must have been like to cross the West in the early 1850's.  At all times the real antagonist is the trip itself and the demands it puts on the pioneers.  Hollywood creates the impression that people just piled into wagons and, except for the occasional Indian attack, rode across the prairie and the mountains with very little trouble.  In truth, this was a long and arduous trek that killed many people not from snake bites or accidents, but sheer exhaustion.  The little details, like how to cook a meal and the techniques for crossing rivers, are what give this book authenticity, but the story isn't bogged down by facts.  Another nice touch is that the Indians are not portrayed as vile or blood-thirsty people, but as sophisticated and clever individuals who were perfectly willing to trade for goods rather than staging a massacre and trying to take what they wanted.  The only questionable aspect of the book is that the relationship develops very quickly, but on a trip like this that might have been possible also. 

Jae presents a very appealing romance with believable characters and interesting settings.  This is a very entertaining book that is definitely worth reading. 

Second Nature by Jae

Publisher:             L-Book

Jorie Price is a fairly successful, although reclusive, writer who is trying to write a  different type of novel and that is giving her trouble.  She's writing about two things she doesn't believe in, shape-shifters and romance.  Her other books were about paranormal fiction and were easy to write, but this one is a struggle. She has no idea how much trouble it is about to cause her.  The Wrasa are real, form an ancient society and they live among the humans trying to keep their existence a secret.  They've heard about Jorie's book and they consider it a threat to them.  Griffin Westmore, a member of the Saru, an elite group of soldiers, is sent on a mission to find out what Jorie knows, how she knows it, and, if necessary, to destroy the book and her.

As Griffin investigates Jorie and forms a friendly relationship with her, she suspects that something more is going on than Jorie trying to reveal the existence of the Wrasa.  Griffin finds herself dealing with family relationships, politics among the shape-shifters and a commanding officer who is intent on seeing Jorie killed.  She's always been a good soldier, but she's not going to follow an order until it makes sense to her.  Jorie and Griffin find themselves being forced to work together as they are pursued by others who don't share Griffin's opinion.  Two women who haven't been able to trust anyone now find that trust is the only thing that may save them and save the future of the Wrasa themselves.

Don't let the size of this book scare you away.  Jae likes to write big books, but the characters are so compelling and the action moves so swiftly that you don't want to put them down.  She takes this story through different levels.  First, there is the intricate dance between Jorie and Griffin as they establish their acquaintance.  Then there is the action and excitement of the chase as everyone seems out to find the women and hurt Jorie.  At the end there is the tension of Griffin trying to prove to the Wrasa that, rather than their destroyer, Jorie might be their salvation.

Second Nature also includes symbolism and raises ethical questions.  The reader can't help but draw parallels between the Wrasa and the history of gays and lesbians, two groups that have been persecuted and forced to hide among the larger society.  As well, Griffin's battle between following orders and what feels appropriate is similar to issues that have been raised in numerous real incidents.  As harsh as the Wrasa's methods may seem, humans aren't let off the hook either with difficult questions being raised about the treatment of other species and the abuse of nature.

Don't be deterred by the fact that this is a paranormal story either.  Second Nature is a complex, yet thoroughly enjoyable tale and the creatures in it are presented in a totally believable manner.  The biggest drawback to the book is that, once you start reading, it's hard to stop and the number of pages guarantees that you can't finish it in one night.  It's worth it though.  Give this book a chance.

All Gone by RJ Nolan

Publisher:           L-Book 

This is one for animal lovers, though part of it will make you sad.

Dr. Kody Garrett is working in vet clinic owned by a very demanding older doctor.  He has a reputation for burning through junior partners at an amazing speed, but Kody is determined to hold on and prove she’s his equal.  She thinks she’s getting her chance when her boss goes on vacation and leaves her in charge of the clinic, but then animals start dying.  When she suspects that someone is poisoning animals, Kody reports the situation to Animal Control and meets Officer BJ Braden.  Unfortunately, her boss didn’t want attention called to his clinic and Kody gets fired, but that doesn’t stop Kody and BJ from trying to catch the killer.  Things become more desperate when the killer starts hunting not only animals, but humans.

This is a fast paced, well told story that will keep you guessing about who is poisoning the animals.  The characters are pleasant, although one of the “bad girls” is perhaps the most interesting.  If you’re looking for some entertainment for a couple of hours, this is your book.  If you’re an animal lover, prepare to be angry.