Book Review: Written In My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon

It’s hard to believe that the author of this book also wrote Outlander.

Outlander poured out in a seamless, riveting flow, whereas Own Heart’s Blood seems forced, contrived and disjointed. We are left to drown in descriptive detail of every leaf and twig between Philadelphia and Valley Forge. It is a good story, however. And I read every word. We again meet Claire Randall, who stepped through the standing stones on a hill in Scotland in 1945 and arrived in the same spot in the year 1743. Soon she meets and marries a young Scots warrior, James Fraser. Own Heart’s Blood focuses on Claire and Jamie in 1778 in Philadelphia, USA as the War for Independence rages. Their lives continue in this eighth book of the series. The dear characters from previous books, such as Fergus, Brianna, Roger, Jem and Mandy, Ian and Jenny plus a minimum of 100 new ones keeps one entertained and engaged. I was happy to see Clarence the mule and Rollo the dog still alive and functioning.

We are exposed to the plots and intrigues of both the Loyalists army and the Continental forces. Of course, Jamie and his nephew, Ian, fight for the cause of freedom, while Jamie’s illegitimate son, William, is an officer for the British.

In addition to the horrors of war, there are weddings, births, preparation of food, descriptions of clothing and uniforms, and extreme situations of healing performed by Claire. Overcoming impossible odds, the entire flock of Frasers and friends return to their homestead in North Carolina in a most satisfying ending to the book.

I do wholeheartedly recommend this book. However, DO NOT read it as the first in the series. Your senses would be totally overwhelmed, crushed and blown away. The sheer volume of 850 pages of words boggles the mind. Ideally these books should be read in chronological order beginning with Outlander.

Book Review: In The Blood by Steve Robinson

Robinson’s writing reflects two of my own passions – genealogy and crime stories.

This is a tale of murder – several murders, both old and new. In 1803 Mawgan Hendry is slain on board his fishing boat off the Cornish coast of England. It’s up to American, Jefferson Tayte, a professional genealogist, to solve this ancient crime as well as modern ones. And Tayte is hardly a two-fisted, gun- toting hero. He’s rather bookish, quite and studious and is deathly afraid of airplanes.

Wealthy Walter Sloan of Chicago has hired Tayte to trace his ancestor, James Fairborne. Although James and his family left America in 1783 and returned to England, all of them apparently vanished into thin air. Tayte’s research uncovers the tragic life of a young Cornish girl and the discovery of a dark secret that he believes will lead him to the family he seeks. But a calculated killer is out to stop him.

Along the way Tayte encounters people, both good and evil, who are tied to the Fairbornes’ mysterious disappearance. People are killed because of his interference, and he almost loses his own life. But he prevails in a spectacular ending.

In The Blood is the first book in the Jefferson Tayte mystery series. I plan to read them all.

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Quote for the day:

A writer is someone who tortures the alphabet for fun and profit. ~ Sarah Bird

Book Review: The Witness by Nora Roberts

I hereby apologize to Nora Roberts, aka J. D. Robb, and any other of her pseudonyms or co-authors. I was wrong!

Since many of her books are classified as “Romance”, I never read them. Years ago I tried the “Romance” genre, but when I read “her luminous, alabaster thighs,” and “his eyes were twin pools of shimmering sapphire,” I closed the book and switched to “Mystery/Suspense.” I preferred the blood and violence.

The Witness is Elizabeth Fitch, age 16. The product of a coldly calculating chief of surgery and a carefully chosen sperm donor, Elizabeth speaks five languages, plays both piano and violin and has traveled the world. She has also been accepted to Harvard. But she has never made a single choice or decision. She obeys her mother’s every dictate.

At last she rebels. Naïve and unworldly, Elizabeth becomes involved with the Mafia and witnesses events that can get her killed, and quickly. But she is smart and resourceful and twelve years later, we find her as Abigail Lowery living in a small town in the Ozarks. Enter Brooks Gleason, the local police chief - of course.

The book is fast-paced and engrossing. I only left this outstanding story to do laundry and meals and finished it at 3:00 am.

Will I read more Nora Roberts? Absolutely – after I check for thighs and sapphires.

Book Review: Color of Blood by Les Coalson

Color of Blood

Author: Les Coalson, a Texan writer
Background reading: Sever the Darkness
Setting: Texas Hill Country
Underlying focus: Environmental concerns such as water, unrestricted population growth, zoning, access to recreational sites, private property rights and citizen rights.

Color of Blood is peopled with flesh and blood characters like Clay and Mary Frances who meet and fall in love. We watch Sharkbait Guy and Bert Taylor as they scheme to steal Mary Frances’ Guadalupe Adventures Campgrounds in a land fraud deal. There’s Ranger Ramirez and his search for a murderer on the Guadalupe River. The believable characters arouse our interest and sympathy while the events, characters and their actions flow smoothly – never herky-jerky.

An interesting sidebar is the discovery and excavation of La Salle’s ship, LaBelle, which sank in the Matagorda Bay system in 1686.

Coalson used prodigious research material to substantiate facts and descriptions. Over 30 publications are listed as references.

As a native of West Texas, I found the Hill Country to be the polar opposite of my familiar landscape. The world of bays, rivers, estuaries, ports, lush greenness and the denizens who occupy this world were foreign to me. I was excited to be introduced to cypress trees, colorful buoys and a variety of boats. I cheered the good guys, booed the villains and thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I’ve read Coalson’s first two books; now I look forward to Ransomed Earth. 

Get Color of Blood on Amazon!