Contemporary Minis: The Liar, Anticipation, The Deal, Mimosa Grove & Longmire

It has been a while since I've been able to enjoy contemporary romance. But lately I've been able to finish reading a few of them. I'm highlighting the most current releases by posting minis, but I also read a few others:

•  After the Night by Linda Howard, an old school romance with one of those brutally hot alpha heroes that always makes me question why I enjoy books like these when in reality I wouldn't give a man like that a micro second of my precious time -- sizzling, sexy hot or not. I believe I read this book a long time ago because I seem to remember the hero, but could not remember the details. Kill & Tell (CIA #1) another romance by Linda Howard, this one with a suspense and a romance with a too short timeline. I love Howard's writing style and this book was good enough with a fantastic New Orleans setting. Both of these books were solid reads for me despite niggles and doubts about my personal taste when it comes to a few, select, fictional asshat alpha heroes. 
• I also read The Wanderer by Robyn Carr (Thunder Point #1) and really enjoyed it. It had a different flavor from Carr's Virgin River series. The over-the-top angst and drama was missing but it kept the close community atmosphere and friendships that I enjoy in her stories. I liked her main romantic couple and even as their romance had a happily for now, rushed feeling at the end, The Wanderer was another solid contemporary read for me. 

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE & SUSPENSE READS:

Last weekend I also read Nora Roberts' latest romance suspense, The Liar. Ms. Roberts' last two romantic suspense books did not make my favorite list, Whiskey Beach was an average read for me and I did not finish The Collector, so my expectations of The Liar were not great. Perhaps that is the reason I liked this book or it may be that I just fell in love with the extremely likable main characters -- 24 year old, recently widowed Shelby, her adorable little girl Callie, and the gorgeous Griffin -- and enjoyed the romance as well as the Shelby's journey.

The Liar has a Southern small town contemporary romance atmosphere as it is set in the mountains of Tennessee. To help this along, there are multiple secondary characters including Shelby's family, close friends, and townspeople, all of whom play a part in Shelby's troubled homecoming. Griffin is a magnificent male protagonist, passionate, sweet, and in love with Shelby. But I adore him for falling in love with Shelby's daughter Callie and taking her out on pizza and ice cream dates. Sweet! My favorite aspect of Shelby's character is her journey back after having been married to a narcissistic man whose psychological abuse during the marriage devastated her self-esteem. Unlike Abba from Whiskey Beach, Shelby is not an over-the-top perfect character and Griffin is portrayed as an honest, loving, down to earth man whose love and patience is exactly what Shelby and her daughter need in their lives. Despite the predictability found in the suspense with its black and white, unredeemable villain(s), the romance is just right. For the romance reader/lover in me that was enough to make The Liar an enjoyable read.

Next I read a book by another favorite author, Sarah Mayberry. I'm a fan of Mayberry's contemporary romances, and although I haven't read all her books, the majority are in my Kindle. That includes her self-published romances. I was really looking forward to reading Anticipation (Brothers Ink #2) because the trope used here is friends-to-lovers, a favorite. Blue and Eddie have been best friends for years! And Blue has been loving and yearning for sexy Eddie all that time, so it seemed to me that this was going to be a fantastic read filled with sexual tension and emotion. Mayberry has done this before, and she can do it so well! My expectations were high, high, high.

The chemistry between Blue and Eddie is fantastic and there are great moments between them along the way. I particularly enjoyed the friendly banter between Blue and Eddie as old friends. Mayberry can write excellent dialogue, banter, give and take (whatever you want to call it) and Anticipation has it in spades. However, once the great sex is placed aside and romance alone becomes the focus, there are not enough true adult interactions for my taste. For example: Blue and Eddie are supposed to be old friends, yet the lack of trust and real, meaningful conversations are missing from the picture. That scenario goes on for too long, almost to the end, until Anticipation lost all emotional and sexual tension for me and just became a frustrating read. It may be that my expectations were too high. Still this is an average romance from a favorite author whose next contemporary romance I look forward to reading.

Last month Mariana convinced me to read my first New Adult contemporary romance, The Deal by Elle Kennedy and overall it was a good reading experience. Kennedy definitely has a hit with college romance between a jock and a music major. The story struck me as being very up to the moment. While Kennedy addresses subject matters such as date rape and/or parental psychological and physical abuse, she also maintains a fun, sexy style throughout the story that makes The Deal a truly enjoyable read without the expected gloom and doom. As expected from a hormone driven couple of this age, sex scenes abound throughout this story. I personally couldn't help but think, 'what about them grades kiddos?' Somehow time stretches and this couple manages to do it all with gusto. The Deal was a surprisingly light, fun read for me and I already added the next installment of the series, The Mistake, to my Kindle.

I believe Mimosa Grove is my first read by Sharon Sala. Nath has recommended this author at her blog so I decided to give the author a try. Mimosa Grove goes from the rather cold setting in Washington DC to the hot, humid, sexually charged atmosphere of the Louisiana bayou. Sala's heroine Laurel is a psychic. At night, in her dreams, Laurel enjoys hot, passionate sex with an unknown man. During the day she deals with a high profile, skeptic father and a Washington DC society that does not believe in her psychic abilities. Just in time, Laurel inherits her grandmother's home, Mimosa Grove, in Louisiana and she escapes from a hostile environment to a place where her abilities as a psychic are not just accepted but wholly embraced. At Mimosa Grove Laurel also meets Justin Bouvier, the man of her dreams in the flesh.  Laurel and Justin quickly embark on a hot love affair but before everything is said and done they will have to confront death, a killer, and uncover a secret that spans centuries.

Mimosa Grove is a romance suspense riddled with predictable situations. The female psychic possesses some seriously powerful mojo that I found to be perfectly flawless -- Laurel is always right and can do everything from experiencing/seeing/channeling past, present and future events, to feeling, seeing and speaking to ghosts. Additionally, conflict between the romantic couple is non-existent. All seems to be hearts and roses from beginning to end as Sala utilizes the sexually charged dream sequences as a devise to accelerate acceptance of intimacy and the bonding process between the couple. Still, I enjoyed the Louisiana bayou as the setting and the likable protagonists. I would like to read another book by Sala, so if anyone has a book recommendation it would be greatly appreciated. :)

TELEVISION & BOOKS:

Very rarely do I blog about television programming. But, damn it one of my favorite television programs was cancelled and I need to rant just a little bit about it.

A&E (which supposedly stands for Arts & Literature television) cancelled the Longmire television series. Mind you, Longmire was A&E's highest rated program to date. So why did they cancel it? Apparently the bulk of the viewer audience for the program does not fall within the coveted ages of 18 and 49. Ageist much? The next season, however, has been picked up by Netflix. That is the good news for viewers interested in following up with the program's events after the end of last season's massive cliffhanger! Unfortunately, it seems as if this option may not be available to European fans. They way I see it though, it is A&E's loss.

Fortunately for me and the rest of Walt Longmire fans, Craig Johnson's mystery series is extremely popular and the books, which have much better content than the television program, are always available. As a matter of fact, the 11th installment of this fantastic mystery series, Dry Bones: A Walt Longmire Mystery, just released on May 12, 2015.

If you are new to the book series you need to know a few things about it. Each book contains a different and fabulous mystery. There is also an ongoing personal narrative involving Walt and all the characters that begins with the first book, The Cold Dish. My recommendation is that the books be read in order as characterization and the human factor are so important to the success of this mystery series.

Hilcia's Minis: YA Wallflowers & Dark Horses + LGBT Mysteries: Porcelain Dogs, Cambridge Fellows & Think of England

In August I craved mysteries and urban fantasy. Today, however, I begin my minis with the young adult fiction book chosen by my Internet Book Club. All of the books below are either highly recommended or recommended reads, and four out of the five are old releases with only one 2014 release in the bunch.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an excellent YA fiction read written in epistolary style. First published in 1999, this short coming-of-age novel is as pertinent today as it was during that time. Chbosky's narrator and main character is young fifteen-year-old Charlie whose personal isolation and awkward social skills are only rivaled by his brilliant mind. The story begins when Charlie is about to start high school and finishes at the end of his freshman year. During that one year, within 213 pages, Charlie undergoes quite a few changes, (character growth) and makes some good as well as some pretty disturbing discoveries about himself. Along the way, he makes some great friends like Patrick, Sam and a few others, but Charlie's family (parents and siblings) are also there in a meaningful way.

This is a smart read, not just a quick one. Chbosky packs in key young adult and family issues, some quite serious, in very few pages while keeping his characters young and fresh as they "discover" and process issues and ideas in their own unique way. While Charlie is the narrator through the letters he writes to "Dear Friend," all the main characters involved in Charlie's life are very well rendered. I was touched by a few them: Charlie, of course, Sam, Patrick and Brad, Charlie's teacher Bill (I wish all teachers were like that!), Charlie's sister and his parents. This is a highly recommended YA fiction read. If you've read it, then you know why. If you haven't, give it try. (1999, Pocket Books)

"In the hallways, I see the girls wearing the guys' jackets, and I think about the idea of property. And I wonder if they are happy. I hope they are. I really hope they are."

"We accept the love we think we deserve."

"[e]ven if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there. We can still do things. And we can try to feel okay about them."

I read this book for my Internet Book Club. Thanks to Mariana, Lili, Maria, Christine, and Yinx for the recommendation and discussion.

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CONTEMPORARY WESTERN MYSTERY:
The Dark Horse (Walt Longmire #5) by Craig Johnson

I decided to go back and read books #5 through #7 of the Walt Longmire mystery series so I can catch up with some of the past installments I'm missing. The Dark Horse was first published in 2009. In this one a woman admits to shooting her husband six times after he burned down the barn while all her quarter horses were inside. Alive. But even with proof, a witness, and her confession, Walt doesn't believe she is guilty and sets out to prove it. The Dark Horse is my favorite book of the series so far. The mystery is fantastic and the action is even better. Good ole Walt just keeps surprising me with what he is willing to do to solve a mystery as well as for other people. What a fabulous character and what a great series. I'm picking up the other two books ASAP, and then I will be up to date. Highly recommended. (2009, Viking Adult - Kindle Ed.)

***By the way, the end of the third season for the A&E Longmire television program was fantastic! I'm still breathless.
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LGBT GAY MYSTERIES/ROMANCE:
The Affair of the Porcelain Dog by Jess Faraday

The Affair of the Porcelain Dog is the first book in a mystery duology by Jess Faraday that I picked up from the "books recommended" list in Goodreads. It is not a romance, it contains sexual involvements that lead to the mystery and action. Set in the crime-riddled streets of 1889 London, the main character Ira Adler is an orphan and former pickpocket, thief, and male prostitute from the mean East End streets, presently living in luxury under the patronage of powerful crime lord Cain Goddard as payment for an exclusive sexual relationship. Ira has become selfishly spoiled with luxury, but that begins to change after Cain asks him to steal the statue of a porcelain dog containing evidence that under the sodomy laws may send him and others, including Ira, to prison. Ira retrieves the porcelain dog only to loose it to another pickpocket, and the hunt begins in earnest leading to a friend's death, opium traders and more dangerous discoveries.

The setting, characters, atmosphere, action and plotting all come together to create an excellent historical mystery. I appreciate that the sodomy laws in place during that time are not taken lightly or dismissed by Faraday, instead they play a crucial role in the mystery, drive how the characters' conduct their lives and the actions they take in order to survive. I could not stop reading this book and will pick up Turnbull House, Book #2, to find out what happens to Ira, his detecting partner and ex-client Dr. Tim Lazarus, and Cain. Highly recommended. (2011, Bold Strokes Books-Digital Format) 

Lessons in Love (Cambridge Fellows #1) by Charlie Cochrane

First published in 2008, this is the first book in an 8 book mystery/romance series by Charlie Cochrane. There is a great mystery in this introductory book to the series and addictive characters that I want to know better. Set in St. Bridges College, Cambridge in 1905, it all begins when the outgoing, good looking Jonty Stewart joins the teaching staff at the college and catches the attention of stodgy, but brilliant, Orlando Coppersmith. A man whose whole life is wrapped up in the school and mathematics. Their relationship slowly changes to intimacy and a forbidden romance. But the murders of young students interrupt their small world of personal discovery, and soon they are caught up in a dangerous position acting as the police's eyes and ears within the college where any one of their students could be the murderer.

The atmosphere in this book is just fantastic, and I fell in love with both Jonty and Orlando. Much tenderness goes into Orlando's seduction, and there is much more to Jonty's character than his outward outgoing, jolly personality. The gay themed mystery is well integrated with the developing relationship between the main characters. I already picked up Lessons in Desire, Book #2. Recommended. (2009, Samhain - Digital Format)

Think of England by K.J. Charles

"Lie back and think of England…"

This is another turn of the century mystery/romance. Set in England, 1904, the majority of the story takes place at a house party in a country home. Captain Archie Curtis lost fingers and friends to a military accident that he believes was the result of sabotage. The only reason he is at this country home is to find proof that the wealthy owner is responsible. He meets the guests and immediately dislikes foreigner Daniel da Silva, an obviously queer poet with the kind of effete mannerisms and sophisticated wit Archie always despised. But as Archie begins to investigate, he finds that Daniel is conducting his own investigation and they join forces. As the danger grows so does the sexual tension, particularly after Archie and Daniel find themselves in a compromising situation with blackmail and murder becoming a real possibility.

This book was recommended to me by Li from Me and My Books, and she was right. I really enjoyed this story for its turn of the century English atmosphere. Particularly Archie's stiff-upper-lip British attitude juxtaposed with the entertaining, tongue in cheek moments provided by Daniel. Oh, the horror! These great characters make a wonderful romantic couple, -- "Can I call on you?" *snort* -- and the mystery and action are a plus. The sodomy laws are taken into consideration, and Charles works through that in the building relationship as well as the mystery plot. I would want to see how she works with an established romance and the complications presented by those laws in a sequel. I would definitely read it. Recommended. (2014, Samhain - Digital Format) 

Longmire New Season Kickoff + Any Other Name (Walt Longmire #10) by Craig Johnson

The new season of Longmire kicked off in A&E. The first episode began with a bang! I personally thought it was fantastic and am following the episodes closely. It picked up exactly where last season ended with both Henry and Branch in trouble, and Walt running to save them both. These two story lines are obviously going to serve as this season's overall story arc, with mysteries to be solved by Longmire, Vic, Ferge, and his crew, interwoven within each episode.

Last year I became addicted to both the television program and the original book series by Craig Johnson. The program is based on the books and I became curious and read books 1 through 4 then skipped to book 9 because well. . . I wanted to catch up on a "spoiler" and couldn't wait to find out. I have books 5 through 8 in my Kindle but decided to read them this summer and indulge myself in more of Johnson's fantastic contemporary western goodness. For more about the differences between the television series vs. the books go here.

But there is also a new book by Craig Johnson that released last month.

ANY OTHER NAME (Walt Longmire Mystery #10) by Craig Johnson

Any Other Name begins as Walt's daughter Cady is waiting to give birth and Walt is due to travel to Philadelphia for his first grandchild's birth. In the meantime his old boss Lucian asks him to accompany him to Gillette in Campbell County to help investigate the alleged suicide of a friend's husband -- semiretired Detective Gerald Holman. The by-the-book Holman was working the County's cold files and his widow, who doesn't believe the forensic reports or the sheriff's assertion that her husband committed suicide, insists that there is some sort of cover-up going on. Lucian warns her to make sure she wants Walt involved in the investigation because “he’s like a gun; once you point him and pull the trigger, it’s too late to change your mind.” And, that's exactly what happens. Once Walt becomes invested in the investigation he's relentless and no matter the results, good or bad, there's no stopping until he's done.

Walt quickly comes to the conclusion that Holman committed suicide. But his question is why? Once he begins digging deeper Walt realizes that Holman may have been hiding information that connected the disappearance of three women, all three investigated as separate crimes. Why would a by-the-book lawman knowingly hold back that kind of information? With the assistance of his Undersheriff and lover Vic Moretti, best friend Henry Standing Bear, Dog, and a rookie from Campbell County, Walt's investigation begins to make sense of the information trickling in until it all takes a dark, unexpected, and dangerous turn. And as the countdown begins to the time when Cady's is scheduled to give birth, the anxiety builds for Walt who won't give up on solving the case or hoping that he will make it in time to get to Philadelphia.

The timeline for solving this mystery is short, a few days, so the pacing is quick and just as relentless as Walt. The bulk of the novel is taken up by the mystery with an anxious Walt trying to find out why a man like Holman would commit suicide while knowing that no matter what happens, he has to be there for over-emotional and demanding Cady. Both the mystery and action are great -- peppered with high octane dangerous situations, Walt's witty narrative, humanity and determination. As in other books, you can count on excellent contributions by Henry, Vic, and Lucian, which are accompanied by a few of Johnson's atmospheric, signature mystic moments. If anything is lacking, in my opinion, it is the lack of page time dedicated for Vic and Walt to discuss the events with which Johnson closed A Serpent's Tooth -- a situation that brought such deep despair to them both.

Any Other Name is another great mystery installment in Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire Mystery series with less of the personal overall story arc involved. Still, I gobbled up this book in one sitting. There's a big revelation at the end of the book that foreshadows what's to come in the next, or in future installments, for Walt. I can't wait to find out how that turns out. If you're a fan, I know you won't miss it. If you're not, I definitely recommend this western contemporary mystery series as a whole.

Category: Western Contemporary Mystery
Series: Walt Longmire
Publisher/Release Date: Viking Adult/May 13, 2014
Grade: B+

Review of books in Series:
The Cold Dish #1
Death Without Company #2
Kindness Goes Unpunished #3
Another Man's Moccasins #4
A Serpent's Tooth #9

June 2013 Recap: Books Read + Minis

June is over and we are already half-way through the year. The months are going by like sand through my fingers. June is a month I will remember for slow reading and slow blogging -- only 8 posts! That's the lowest ever for me. Yikes! Summer, work, family, and personal commitments. The eternal optimist, I'm hoping things will pick up in July. Following is my recap, plus minis for books not reviewed during the month.

Total books read: 11
Contemporary: 3 (Romance)
Historical: 0
SFFR/PNR: 2
Crime Mystery/Contemporary Western: 4
Poetry: 1 (LGBT)
Fantasy: 1 (LGBT)

Heart of Obsidian (Psy/Changeling #12) by Nalini Singh: A
The latest installment in Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling series was my favorite read in June. I adore the Changelings, but the atmosphere that Singh creates with her Psy characters always grab me. Maybe it is because the science fiction/fantasy details of this series come to the forefront in those installments, and I love the way she integrates them with her hot romances. Or maybe it is because it is so tough to sell a romance between such cold characters and in the end Singh sells them so grandly to the reader. This one is a winner.

His Wife for One Night by Molly O'Keefe: B+
This category romance came highly recommended by Wendy The Super Librarian with an A Grade. What? So, I had to read it. If you read my review, I have no complaints about this romance at all. It is the best straight forward contemporary romance (without erotic content) I have read in a while. Definitely recommended.

Waxwings by Daniel Nathan Terry: B+
In my very short impressions of this poetry volume I posted that I'd read it three times. Well, make that four times now. Waxwings is only 68 pages long, but the more I read it, the more I find. It is one of those books where the pain, passion and love need to be absorbed one poem at a time.

Death Without Company (Walt Longmire #2) by Craig Johnson: B+

When Mari Baroja is found poisoned at the Durant Home for Assisted Living, Sheriff Longmire is drawn into an investigation that reaches fifty years into the mysterious woman’s dramatic Basque past. Aided by his friend Henry Standing Bear, Deputy Victoria Moretti, and newcomer Santiago Saizarbitoria, Sheriff Longmire must connect the specter of the past to the present to find the killer among them.

The first book of the Longmire series hooked me! Death Without Company cemented the love as he continues the series with an excellent mystery, great humor, and three dimensional characters. In this second installment Johnson expands on the characterization of already beloved characters, introduces new ones, and builds a mystery that begins with one death in the present but takes Walt back into the history of Absaroka County introducing the well-established Basque community. Walt unearths old truths, opens old wounds, and ends up questioning his sense of justice.

Kindness Goes Unpunished (Walt Longmire #3) by Craig Johnson: C+

Walt and Henry visit the City of Brotherly Love, where no act of kindness goes unpunished. Walt's wit and charm have helped him solve many crimes. But that can't prepare him for the savage attack on his daughter, Cady, a Philadelphia lawyer who has unwittingly become embroiled in a political cover-up. As Walt and Henry Standing Bear scour the city for clues, he gets help from his deputy Victoria Moretti and her family on the Philly police. But Longmire wasn't born yesterday. He's willing to pull out all the stops to find Cady's attacker.

In this third installment Walt's feelings for his daughter Cady are upfront and at the center of the story. Victoria Moretti's history also emerges giving her character a stronger background. However, although Vic and Walt's relationship takes an unexpected turn, this is not a favorite book in this series. Walt and Henry's involvement in the crime mystery feel forced, probably because they are out of their environment, and Vic's dysfunctional family relationships are less than entertaining -- particularly her mother.

Another Man's Moccasins (Walt Longmire #4) by Craig Johnson: B

When the body of a young Vietnamese woman is found alongside the interstate in Absaroka County, Wyoming, Sheriff Walt Longmire is determined to discover the identity of the victim and is forced to confront the horrible similarities of this murder to that of his first homicide investigation as a marine in Vietnam. Virgil White Buffalo, a homeless Crow Indian, is found living in a nearby culvert in possession of the young woman's purse. Two problems with what appears to be an open-and-shut case. One, Walt doesn't think Virgil White Buffalo, a Vietnam vet with a troubling past, is a murderer. And two, the photo found in the woman's purse looks hauntingly familiar to Walt.

I really enjoyed this solid installment in which Walt solves two crime mysteries separated by forty years. But, book 4 also serves to further give the reader an insight into Walt's and Henry's personal histories and background. Great wit and humor continue to make this series enjoyable as light moments are weaved in seamlessly with serious subjects. Additionally, Vic and Walt's relationship continues to change as Cady recovers at home.

A Serpent's Tooth (Walt Longmire #9) by Craig Johnson: B+

It’s homecoming in Absaroka County, but the football and festivities are interrupted when a homeless boy wanders into town. A Mormon “lost boy,” Cord Lynear is searching for his missing mother but clues are scarce. Longmire and his companions, feisty deputy Victoria Moretti and longtime friend Henry Standing Bear, embark on a high plains scavenger hunt in hopes of reuniting mother and son. The trail leads them to an interstate polygamy group that’s presiding over a stockpile of weapons and harboring a vicious vendetta.

I was blown away by the 9th or latest release of the Longmire series. Walt's budding romance takes a whole new direction ending in dire results. Of course we won't know the extent of those results until the next book. Ahhh! However, it is the complexity of the crime mystery and Walt's growing rage as the storyline develops that kept me glued to the pages. As a result of this case, the entire Sheriff's Department is affected... I can't say more, but I was floored. Definitely recommended to old and new fans!

Unraveling the Past by Beth Andrews: B-
My TBR Challenge read for the month of June turned out to be a mixed bag. I thought this romance may have been better categorized as a romance suspense, as I found the romance to be rather weak. However, I found a secondary storyline between the "hero" and his niece brilliantly executed by Andrews. Thinking back, this book should have been a C+ grade read because of the amount of quibbles, but I do enjoy Andrews' writing... hmm.

Tethered (Iron Seas #2.5) by Meljean Brook: C
Tethered is a novella that serves as an epilogue to the already written romance between Captain Yasmeen Corsair and Archimedes Fox. I don't know that this novella was necessary, but okay. Personally, I wish that this adventure and the realizations the two characters come to about their love for each other had been included in the original romance. But, this is a favorite author writing a novella set in a favorite world and Brook can certainly weave an adventure. For that reason alone I enjoyed it. Enough said.

Stand In Wife by Karina Bliss: C-
I've enjoyed Karina Bliss' contemporaries in the past. Stand In Wife, however, turned out to be a less than memorable contemporary romance. I believe it was enjoyable at the time because I finished it, but frankly after I turned that last page I couldn't remember names of characters or much about the storyline, except that well. . . the couple fell in love and had a happily ever after, blah, blah, blah. I hate when that happens.

Dust Devil on a Quiet Street by Richard Bowes: Upcoming review.

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That is it for my June reads! Of the books graded, there were quite a few favorite reads on my list: Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh was my top read, however,  His Wife for One Night by Molly O'Keefe, Waxwings by Daniel Nathan Terry, Death Without Company (Walt Longmire #2) by Craig Johnson, and A Serpent's Tooth (Walt Longmire #9) also join my list of favorite reads for the month. That is one nice list of great reads! A satisfying month.

TV vs. Books: A&E's Longmire vs. Walt Longmire series by Craig Johnson

The Cold Dish (Walt Longmire #1) by Craig Johnson is the first book of a western mystery series that my husband and I read in tandem while we were on vacation. We both watch and enjoy the A& E television program, Longmire, based on this popular book series and decided that reading the first book was a good idea if we wanted to find the differences and commonalities between the two.

What we found is that unlike the television program which targets western aficionados who love action, mystery and drama, the book series that begins with The Cold Dish is a western mystery that includes all of the above, but that is geared toward, and I feel would be highly enjoyed by, mature adult readers. The primary character Walt Longmire is in his 50's as is his close friend and fellow investigator in many of the crime mysteries, Henry Standing Bear. Additionally many of the secondary characters that populate Walt's life in Wyoming's Absaroka County where the series is set are also mature adults. There is one main character in her 30's, Walt's Under-sheriff Victoria Moretti, and a few secondary characters, including deputies and Walt's daughter Cady. So, if you prefer to read stories with younger central characters this book and series may not be for you.

The mystery in The Cold Dish is excellent and the western atmosphere is flawless! I love Walt as the narrator with his self-deprecating wit and the overall humor that carries the reader through some seriously dangerous action. The close relationship and interactions between Walt Longmire and Henry Standing Bear provide some of the best moments of the story, as Henry helps Walt navigate personal problems brought about by the death of his wife, but Henry also serves as a sort of liaison between the Sheriff and the Cheyenne reservation when political or human issues arise. Walt's close friendship with Henry keeps him grounded, but it also brings a spirituality and a touch of mysticism to his life that adds much to the series as a whole. Obviously, Henry is a favorite character.

Robert Taylor as Longmire

In comparing the book to the television program, both my husband and I agree that Walt's quick, dry wit and self-deprecating humor is sorely missing from the television program. The TV Longmire is a depressed rough, tough, stoic man who cares deeply for his daughter Cady. He's not charming to others and often looks grim. Yet in the books, although Walt is coming out of a depression after losing his wife to cancer and definitely drinks too much, he is very much admired for his past and present deeds and liked by the town's population. Walt tries to be charming and often uses his sense of humor to win people over. Most importantly, he is ready to move on after having lost his wife four years earlier. Walt's wit and self-doubts make him quite human and the reader connects with this rough and tough man who on the inside is really a marshmallow -- everyone knows that! To me, this character became Walt in the books, a man I would love to know better, but he is the somewhat intimidating Longmire in the show. I think that says a lot.

Katee Sakhoff as Vic

The other difference I found is in how Walt's female deputy Victoria Moretti is portrayed in the show as opposed to the books. In the books, as the series begins, Vic has been working with Walt for two years and they know each other pretty well. She came to Absaroka County from Philadelphia's Police Department when her husband transferred to a new job in the area. She is not really happy to be stuck in the middle of nowhere and the contentious and dying relationship with her husband doesn't help, but that is kept off the pages. Vic is a foul-mouthed intelligent woman, a straight shooter so well-versed in new police procedures and forensics that she basically runs the Sheriff's office for Walt who is old school. Walt wants her to replace him when he retires. She thinks of Walt as her only friend and there is obvious care and affection between the two. I really love how Vic is characterized in The Cold Dish, and the respect and care that exists between her and the other characters in the story. Later on her relationship with Walt grows and moves in unexpected directions, but her direct approach never changes.

On the television program Vic's background is the same. She is still smart but works closer with Walt than in the first book or even in subsequent books, however, she somehow doesn't come off as knowledgeable, and although she is still tough there is a "lightness" about her that is not part of her character in the first book, but that can be found sparingly in some of the other installments. She is a much tougher and rougher character in the books. Additionally, in Longmire Vic plays Walt's partner and seems to spend time trying to set up Walt with women (in other words taking Henry's role), and secretly acting possessive of Longmire. Vic is not secretive, she says what she thinks. I see pieces of the Vic I love in the books in the Vic portrayed on television, but she's definitely not the same.

Lou Diamond Phillips as Henry

Overall, though, both the television program and the books are excellent and recommended. The crime mysteries and western atmosphere are excellent in both, and although I prefer the characterization in the books and the fact that the deep relationship and partnership between Walt and Henry drive many of the plot points with Vic serving as a central secondary character, I think the television program definitely draws viewers for a reason. I enjoy it, even if I find myself looking for those moments when Henry Standing Bear (Lou Diamond Phillips) makes a longed for appearance. The Cold Dish I recommend to anyone who loves to read westerns and excellent mysteries. The series is addictive as I soon found out when I found myself reading Death Without Company, #2, Kindness Goes Unpunished #3, Another Man's Moccasins #4, and the latest release A Serpent's Tooth #9. I will definitely be going back to read the books in between!

This n' That: Reading & New Additions

So, I had ten days off! It was sooo nice to get away for a few days with my husband. We both disconnected from everyone and everything. For me, that included blogging and to a certain extent reading. I was rather ambitious and took my Kindle, my iPhone, and two print books with me, but did not read much. I came back home and now have the blahs... I don't feel like reading, blogging or doing much of anything.

However, I did find time for book shopping. Here's my new list: (click on titles to read summaries)

1. Conservation of Shadows by Yoon Ha Lee - Science Fiction/Fantasy
I read an interview with Yoon Ha Lee. The interview combined with the following quote from one of her short stories convinced me to buy the book:

"It is not true that the dead cannot be folded. Square becomes kite becomes swan; history becomes rumor becomes song. Even the act of remembrance creases the truth." Ghostweight

2. Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris -- Collection of Humorous Essays (Reading)
I was sold on this book after watching Mr. Sedaris promoting his book in the Daily Show with Jon Stewart! I'm reading it slowly and enjoying every minute of it.

3. Minions of the Moon by Richard Bowes (Reading) - Fantasy/UF
I was introduced to Mr. Bowes's writing by way of a short story and liked the realism he used to set up his fantasy. Later his modern fairy tale book The Queen, The Cambion, and Seven Others came to my attention so I purchased it and really enjoyed it. Then last month I read his novella Grierson at the Pain Clinic in the Wilde Stories 2013 anthology and that short story grabbed my attention so I went a-hunting for Minions of the Moon!

4. Tethered (Iron Seas 2.5) by Meljean Brook - Steampunk/Romance
Okay, Meljean Brook. Iron Seas novella. 'Nuff said.

5. Wallbanger by Alice Clayton (Read) - Contemporary Romance
Last year I placed this in my "to buy" list, but found it to be way too expensive and frankly wasn't willing to invest on the print book at the time. I forgot about it until recently when Leslie reviewed it. I looked it up again and the ebook was available, better priced so I purchased it and read it before leaving on vacation.

6. True to the Law by Jo Goodman - Western Historical Romance
I love Jo Goodman's western historical romances, so this was an auto-buy. I hope it's a good one because I'm looking forward to reading it.

7. Sea, Swallow Me and Other Stories by Craig Laurance Gidney - LGBT Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror

8. Bereft by Craig Laurance Gidney - LGBT YA Gay Fiction
I purchased two books by Gidney, an older release Sea, Swallow Me and Other Stories, and his first, recently released novel, Bereft. I follow this author's blog, but I've never read his works. I'm looking forward to reading these two different pieces.

9. The Cold Dish (Walt Longmire #1) by Craig Johnson (Read) - Western Mystery
My husband and I watch the A&E western mystery program Longmire, based on this series by Craig Johnson. We both decided to read this book in tandem while on vacation (yes this is the only book I read).

10. Kentucky Home by Sarah Title - Western Contemporary Romance
A western contemporary romance with a really attractive blurb! That was enough for me.

11. Salsa Nocturna by Daniel José Older, ed. Kay T. Holt - Fantasy
I read a quote or an excerpt from one of the stories somewhere. I can't remember where! But, this book really caught my attention and I want to read it. I've looked up some reviews and it seems that it's well-loved all around. So yes, I'm looking forward to reading it...

12. The Cowboy and the Cossack by Clair Huffaker, Nancy Pearl - Western/Eastern Historical 
Hey, another western! Or is it an Eastern? This is a backlist book (1973) by Clair Huffaker that features an American cowboy, but it is set in Russia so it also features a Cossack. The different setting and blurb grabbed me. This book is part of a new collection of oldies but goodies released in ebook format under Nancy Pearl's Book Lust Rediscoveries. Pearl is a well-known, award winning librarian. Check out the books!

Summer heat finally arrived in New Jersey this last week... and this has been a beautiful weekend! The gorgeous weather is not helping, but I hope to get my reading and blogging mojo back soon. I certainly have plenty of good books to read!